The Government's continuing support for renewable energy will be underlined today by Malcolm Wicks in his keynote address to the wind industry annual conference in Glasgow.
He will tell the British Wind Energy Association that he is giving Devon Wind Power the go-ahead for their 66MW Fullabrook Down wind project in north Devon.
The decision follows a four-week public inquiry into the development in December 2006 and January 2007.
When fully operational the 22 turbine scheme will generate enough clean electricity to meet the average annual needs of 30,000 domestic consumers - equivalent to over 80% of domestic electricity consumption or some 30% of total energy electricity consumption in North Devon. It will also save almost 65,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Malcolm Wicks said:
"This Government is matching words with action. We said we needed to make tough choices if we are to achieve our clean energy objectives and that is exactly what we are doing. Fullabrook Down will make a substantial contribution to meeting Devon's renewable target of generating 151 MW of renewable electricity by 2010 and would be nearly double the North Devon District Council's target of 36MW."
"Our renewable future is burning bright in Britain. Innovative projects like the new wave and tidal testing facility off the Orkney Islands, the recently consented Wave Hub in Cornwall and a Severn Barrage, if developed, will all ensure the UK remains a centre of renewable excellence.
"It is this vision that will triple our renewable electricity generation by 2015 and help meet our twin goals of energy security and tackling climate change."
As well as delivering on the Government's pledge to get projects through the planning system, Wicks will set out what additional action is being taken in order to deliver even more capacity.
This includes proposals to 'band' the Renewables Obligation to give increased support to developing technologies such as offshore wind and solar. Amending the Climate Change Policy Planning Statement so that it is more heavily weighed in favour of renewables applications. A Transmission Access Review that will streamline grid connections and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform working with Ofgem to establish an Offshore Transmission Regime that will connect up a raft of new, large-scale offshore wind projects to the mainland.
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