The UK’s secretary of energy and climate change, has announced the government’s “clean power 2030” plan.
The plan is part of an “ambitious” goal of reaching 95 percent green energy by the end of the decade, reported BBC News, which includes measures giving ministers final approval of large onshore wind farms.
“A new era of clean electricity for our country offers a positive vision of Britain’s future with energy security, lower bills, good jobs and climate action. This can only happen with big, bold change and that is why the government is embarking on the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations,” said Ed Miliband, secretary of energy and climate change. “The era of clean electricity is about harnessing the power of Britain’s natural resources."
Miliband also wants the country’s energy regulator to have the power to tackle energy projects waiting to be hooked up to the National Grid, BBC News said.
The Labour government wants large onshore wind projects to be brought back into England’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project system, along with other energy infrastructure. Currently, just 5.3 percent of the UK's electricity is generated by wind.
The plan has been welcomed by environmental groups, as well as the energy industry.
“We welcome the prospect of slashing red tape for grid connections, overturning the onshore wind ban in England and allowing more special offers to slash energy bills. Britain’s high energy prices stem from years of bad rules that don’t allow us to build renewable energy in the places it’s needed, or make use of cheap wind when it’s abundant, so these are positive steps,” said Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy.