Opposing onshore wind farms risks harming economy, says group

THE renewable energy industry yesterday hit back at campaigners against onshore wind farms, claiming opposition to the technology could cost £1.3bn in lost investment in England.

Industry body RenewableUK said that if all onshore wind farm developments currently seeking approval are given the go-ahead, England stood to gain 1.3bn in investment by 2030.

The industry said the funding would directly create jobs in roles such as wind turbine maintenance, increase business rates for councils, boost land rents and provide community benefits – all of which were under threat from "selfish" campaigners who opposed wind farms.

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RenewableUK made its comments after a report by renewable energy consultants GL Garrad Hassan, commissioned by the industry body, analysed the benefits to local and regional areas of onshore wind farms.

Another study by RenewableUK, its annual state of the industry report, showed that the number of wind farm developments being agreed at the planning stage by local authorities across the UK had fallen from 50 per cent of applications in 2008/2009 to only one in three in the last financial year.

RenewableUK's chief executive Maria McCaffery said: "The UK wind industry is already bringing investment and jobs for local people and companies all across the country, and can deliver many more financial benefits in the years ahead.

"Aesthetic concerns may often be the grounds for refusal of wind farm developments at planning stage, but they can also be seen as selfish concerns when considered against the tangible benefits that wind energy can bring."

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