Portrait of Ed Miliband
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Ed Miliband on Onshore Wind

Strong onshore wind advocate (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Ed Miliband strongly advocates for rapidly expanding onshore wind power as a cheap, fast route to energy independence and net zero.

Key Points

  • He lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind farms within 72 hours of entering office.

  • The government has set an ambition to nearly double England's onshore wind capacity to up to 29GW by 2030.

  • His strategy includes plans to explore expanding the Clean Industry Bonus for onshore wind projects to encourage local benefits.

Summary

Ed Miliband champions the significant role of onshore wind in achieving energy security and net zero goals, describing it as one of the cheapest and fastest-to-build sources of power available. He views its deployment as critical to boosting energy independence by 2030, making it a core element of the government's clean power strategy. His administration took swift action upon entering office to reverse previous restrictions, lifting the de facto ban on new onshore wind farms within 72 hours and placing the technology on an equal planning footing with offshore wind and nuclear projects.

This push involves ambitious deployment targets, aiming to nearly double England's onshore wind capacity by the end of the decade, alongside a comprehensive plan addressing barriers like planning, grid connection, and radar issues. Furthermore, he is seeking to ensure local communities benefit from hosting these developments, potentially through direct financial mechanisms or bill discounts, to garner greater public acceptance for projects that critics argue risk damaging scenic landscapes.

Key Quotes

On planning, we lifted the onshore wind ban within 72 hours of coming to office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ed Miliband holds a strongly positive stance on onshore wind, viewing it as a crucial, cost-effective technology for achieving energy independence and meeting net zero targets. He has actively worked to remove regulatory barriers that previously stalled development.

Yes, his position has evolved significantly from previous stances; as Secretary of State, he reversed the previous government's policy bias against the technology. He has made clear that onshore wind deployment is now a priority for his energy strategy.

He oversaw the removal of the de facto ban on new onshore wind projects shortly after taking office. Furthermore, he is pushing for planning reforms and exploring mechanisms like the Clean Industry Bonus to support deployment and community benefits.