Wind farms and energy infrastructure will not dominate countryside, peers told
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Wind farms and energy infrastructure will not dominate the UK’s countryside because of the Government’s clean power ambitions, peers have heard. Speaking to the Lords’ environment and science committees on Tuesday, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband defended planning reforms to push through a wave of clean energy projects, as part of Government ambitions for a decarbonised electricity grid by 2030.
It comes amid concerns that Labour’s net zero goals and the dialling back of environmental protections to drive development could come at the expense of nature recovery and food security, as more land is absorbed by wind farms and clean energy infrastructure.
But Mr Miliband said new projects will take up little agricultural land and plans will see them “dovetailing” with nature restoration. He cited the long-awaited land use framework, which is expected to be published by the Environment Department (Defra) this year, and will outline how the country can support multiple objectives, including farming, nature and climate mitigation.
“I believe clean energy development is absolutely compatible with nature protection and restoration,” he said. “I do not buy the zero-sum game argument. “Solar farms can be compatible with rewilding, wildflower meadows, even sheep grazing and other things. The notion that it’s either one thing or another is not something I buy.”.
