Commenting on the publication today of the Government’s response to its consultation “Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England”, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Policy Ana Musat said:

“We’re pleased to be working with the Government on updating the Community Benefits Protocol for Onshore Wind in England. The onshore wind industry wants to continue to engage with local communities in a way which is flexible and transparent, to build trust and ensure communities see tangible benefits and continue to be involved in decision making.

“The Government is right to focus on early engagement and good practice guidelines, as they are vital in building strong relationships between onshore wind developers and local communities. This is already widespread throughout the industry.

“Developers already provide a wide range of benefits, from funding community projects to local electricity discount schemes. Flexibility is vital - it should be up to communities to decide what form the benefit will take, working closely with developers on a voluntary approach, and depending on the size of the wind farm. 

“It makes sense to set a standard level for community benefit funds across the UK of £5,000 per megawatt of capacity. Communities can expect consistency across the country. It also provides certainty for investors and developers about the expectations placed on them.

“It’s also important to highlight the fact that communities in England will not be able to benefit from these funds unless there is significant planning reform. The Government’s changes to planning policy in September don’t really remove the current de-facto ban on onshore wind.

“Communities in England can’t benefit from a wind farm proposal that’s never put to them because the planning system is too difficult for developers to navigate. We need to end the unique restrictions on onshore wind and treat it like any other energy infrastructure”.  

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: RenewableUK