Who will have the last word on wind energy?

The third and final of the televised political debates was held last week in Birmingham.  While climate change did not feature as a focus for the debate, it was raised as part of the ongoing discussion about how to incentivise businesses and manufacturing in the UK.

 As the three main political leaders rounded on the key issue of the economy, Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, was quick to urge a policy of incentivising businesses to use and manufacture wind energy as a source of clean, green, technology. The recent closure of the only manufacturer of onshore wind turbines in the UK was cited as an example of the need for more investment in this essential technology.

Gordon Brown outlined investment in wind energy as a priority for Labour.  Brown also reiterated that Britain is already the world’s leading nation for investment in wind energy and wind power is gaining support from large companies as a result of government incentives.

Recently, wind energy has slowly been creeping onto the political agenda.  However, there needs to be a demand for wind turbines in order to justify their increased production. Currently only 25% of the applications for onshore wind farms are passed at the local level, demonstrating a disconnect between the leaders’ policies of encouraging wind energy and the reality of turning Britain into a global leader of renewable energy.

That’s why we need to ensure the next government knows we support wind energy and want to see wind farms pushed through approvals. We need to make sure the next government makes good its word on wind energy, and doesn’t simply use it as an example of British industry recovery.

 If you’d like to support wind energy in your local area ahead of the election, please visit our homepage and click on the pink button to locate and email your local candidate and support the ‘I am a WIMBY’ campaign.