Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Council Leaders Hit Back at Prescott on Wind Energy

The leaders of East Riding and the Isle of Wight Councils have responded angrily to comments made by John Prescott about UK wind farm decision making last week.

At the first ‘Age of Stupid awards’ the former Deputy Prime Minister spoke out against people who oppose wind turbines being constructed near their homes and the planning committees who take action in response to their lobbying. Prescott is concerned about the number of recent decisions to refuse permission for new projects to generate renewable energy “Stupid planning committee in Bedford, stupid planning committee in the Isle of Wight – I hope they get upset about it. We have to counteract the NIMBYs who say they want change but not in their backyard.”

Despite the East Riding of Yorkshire being well positioned for wind energy, Councillors have refused a number of the wind farms proposals in their area. Council Leader Stephen Parnaby said “I think Mr Prescott’s comments are a bit rich. “It’s typical of this Government backing off from its responsibilities…the energy of the country should be dealt with at a national level and the blame should not be passed on to local authorities.”

New Wind Energy and Major Infrastructure Petition

Wind farm NIMBYs are becoming more vocal in the UK leading to big challenges for companies trying to construct wind energy projects.

The British Wind Energy Association and wind energy companies say that most people in the UK are supportive of wind turbines but they are less likely to express their support for specific projects than people who are against proposals. This group are known as the ’silent majority’ and they are also usually against wind farm NIMBYs.