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Planning System Favours Wind
9 August 2004
Friends of the Earth today welcomed a Government announcement of new planning guidance to encourage the use of renewable energy [1]. But the environmental campaign organisation said the Government must do more to make its commitment to renewable resources work in practice.
The new guidance, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, includes provision for:
- Regional and local plans should encourage rather than restrict renewable energy resources
- Planning authorities can require new developments to use on-site renewable energy sources for a percentage of their energy
- Targets for renewable energy generation should be set out in regional spatial strategies
- All developments should be considered in the light of impacts on nationally and internationally important wildlife and conservation sites.
Friends of the Earth's Campaigns Director Mike Childs said:
"It is good to see the Government is taking these small steps to promote the development of renewable energy resources in this country. Renewable resources such as wind, wave and biomass are vital in the fight against climate change. But if the Government is serious in tackling climate change, it must do far more than tweak its planning guidance - we need to see policies to promote renewable energy and cut carbon dioxide emissions across the whole of Government."
Notes
[1] See:
www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/ ¬
documents/page/odpm_plan_030334.hcsp
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008



