Red Tape Blowing In The Wind

Windfarms are being held up by red tape. This is according to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) as reported in the Guardian on 29 December 2008. The Planning Act (on the Government's Planning Portal) is intended to speed up approval for green energy schemes, but it appears to be having little effect. It only applies to larger-scale schemes (above 50MW) and only applies to England. Charles Anglin of the BWEA said that 80-90% of schemes in England are below 50MW, making the Planning Act virtually worthless.

Mounting costs of raw materials and equipment for projects are adding further to problems for the generators, and in some cases they may become uneconomic.