Ed Miliband has committed to addressing the “blockers and delayers” impeding the expansion of wind and solar farms as the Government prioritises overcoming nimbyism in its infrastructure strategy.
At an industry conference, the Energy Secretary highlighted the “barriers to business investment” that can be overcome with “political will.”
In his speech at the Energy UK conference in London, he emphasised that the push for clean energy is essential not only for climate reasons but also for energy security and affordability.
While Labour colleagues launched a “Smash the Nimbys” pressure group, Miliband warned attendees: “Every blocked wind turbine, every rejected solar farm, and every piece of grid we fail to build makes us less secure and more vulnerable.
“Previous governments have avoided making tough decisions. Ultimately, it is the poorest in our society who bear the consequences.
“My message today is that we will confront the blockers, the delayers, and the obstructionists because clean energy is a crucial issue of economic justice, energy security, and national security.
“That’s why one of the Prime Minister’s five key missions is to establish Britain as a clean energy superpower, delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating progress toward net zero.”
His commitment to reducing planning restrictions aims to support developers across the energy sector, although it is likely to provoke backlash from those opposed to plans for extensive wind farms and pylons in green belt areas.
Rosie Pearson, a spokesperson for the Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons campaign group, criticized Miliband for creating division.
She stated: “Labeling community groups as obstructionists and using phrases like ‘Smash the Nimbys’ is deeply inappropriate and concerning.”
