9 July 2024Westminster viewDear readers, donors and subscribers, The new Labour government has not wasted any time in cracking on with its green agenda. A commitment to reduce planning restrictions for onshore wind appears to fit neatly alongside its pro-growth rhetoric, and has already been welcomed in many circles. The sense of urgency represents a refreshing change from the timidity of the recent past. However, readers will know that while planning deregulation is much needed across the board - not least in energy - onshore wind is about the least deserving recipient of this positive approach. With lower capacity factors than offshore wind, and the best UK onshore wind sites already being in Scotland, these changes are highly unlikely to do much to improve Britain’s energy security. What we can expect is for bill-payers to be burdened with ever-higher electricity costs, more subsidies, and for large amounts of land to be used to produce small amounts of energy. The myth of ‘cheap’ wind energy is still believed by far too many. The very substantial system cost of intermittent energy sources cannot remain the elephant in the room, as it has been for so many years. But all the indications are that Miliband is wedded to pushing on regardless. Trouble awaits. Best wishes, Harry
Harry Wilkinson is head of policy at Net Zero Watch. As always, please don’t reply to this email address, which is not monitored.
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