Local authorities need ''more say on energy solutions''

An energy expert today said that the government needs to plan energy strategies that can be adopted by local authorities and that this action is urgent.

Colin Tomlinson, the head of operations at the British Wind Energy Association, said that there are current problems with our planning system which are shown through our lack of wind farms in some parts of the country.

He said councils should receive better information and resources so better local decisions can be made which are informed by the national policy.

Mr Tomlinson said: "We''re in trouble in terms of our renewable energy targets."

He added that during the last four years the amount of time taken to reach an agreement on an energy strategy has increased to a year and a half with approval rates of plans also going down.

This is disastrous at a time when we need positive actions urgently where concerns renewable technology that can be delivered on a large scale, he added.


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