Firm appeals to landowners to host wind turbines

A renewable energy company has written to landowners to appeal to them to host wind turbines on their land.

Ecotricity, based in Stroud, said its analysis of Gloucestershire's land revealed the county could accommodate 100 new wind turbines which it said could meet all of the county's energy demands.

"The new government have come along and removed the ban on onshore wind and now it's a possible thing to do," said company founder Dale Vince.

However, David Gray, from Gloucestershire County Council, said he had "grave concerns" about the potential impact on the county's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Since taking power in July, Labour has ended an effective ban on new onshore wind projects which was in place during the last Conservative government.

Ecotricity said 100 4MW wind turbines, which could generate 1,200 GWh, would be enough to meet the electricity needs of all the county’s homes.

It is also proposing that the turbines be publicly owned which it claims could return £7m to council finances every year.

The company has already written to 60 landowners about the idea and has launched an advertising campaign encouraging others to lease their land for renewable projects.

Mr Vince said: "It's not been done before but it doesn't mean it can't happen.

"Local authorities consent windmills but we're saying for them to go further and be part of the development process.

"They can borrow money far cheaper than companies can to build these.

"This is like a regional version of Great British Energy where local authorities can play their part and deliver benefits to people directly with no middlemen.

"Gloucestershire is a huge untapped resource – it could lead the way.

"We can create new jobs, help farmers and power the entire county all while fighting the climate crisis," he added.

Mr Gray, cabinet member for environment, economy and planning at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I recognise that inshore wind may play a part in the transition to a low carbon economy, which GCC is committed to.

"However I have grave concerns about the impact that wind turbine development on the proposed scale in Gloucestershire would have on our landscapes, especially when so much of our beautiful county is covered by AONB.

"Both environmentally and economically, preservation of the AONB is vital, not least because tourism plays such an important part in our local economy.

“I believe a sensible approach to both decarbonising our mix of energy sources and increasing energy security is to include a role for wind, onshore and offshore, solar, and nuclear."

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Onshore wind is crucial to making Britain a clean energy superpower, boosting the UK’s energy independence and protecting bill payers."

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