24 Mar 2009 05:03:10

Opposing wind farms should be taboo says Miliband

Opposing wind farm developments should be socially taboo, according to energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband.

With local opposition among the top reasons for delays to wind projects, Mr Miliband told an audience at the screening of climate change documentary Age of Stupid that opposing the renewable energy developments should not be acceptable.

The Guardian reports him as saying: "The government needs to be saying, 'It is socially unacceptable to be against wind turbines in your area - like not wearing your seatbelt or driving past a zebra crossing'."

In the film, one wind farm campaigner has his application to put up wind turbines in Bedfordshire opposed on what he claims are simply aesthetic grounds.

The government has set a target of creating 15 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020, though local opposition is stalling the construction of wind farms in many cases.

This could be reduced when the infrastructure planning commission, created by the Planning Act comes into effect.

Earlier this month Sir Michael Pitt was named as the preferred candidate to chair the new commission, which will begin to issue guidance from October 2009.


http://www.decc.gov.uk/

Sector

Community / Public sector

Agricultural

Renewable energy

Wind energy

Wind turbines

Environment

Climate change