Following the government’s announcement of plans to streamline planning rules for onshore wind projects, the county council has reiterated its commitment to protecting the landscape and heritage.
We understand that there is considerable public concern over meeting our future energy requirements, but I believe the proposed change will be met with some resistance in Lincolnshire.
We have a responsibility to protect our rural landscape. Therefore, we cannot agree to unrestricted large scale commercial wind farm developments on good agricultural county land.
We also believe the same caution must be used by the government when they consider large-scale solar developments.
But our concerns are not just due to Lincolnshire’s countryside and scenery. Lincolnshire plays a key role in feeding the nation and for future food security, so we do not want to see good quality agricultural land used in this way.
We have a very clear view that land in our county suitable for growing food should predominantly be used in that way. That's why we had an onshore wind farm position statement. I don't think anything has changed.
The county council believes there are better ways to achieve carbon net zero, such as:
- Making sure all new build residential homes are low carbon and have reduced energy costs
- Better use of solar panels on homes and brownfield or lower grade agricultural sites before any good quality land is used
- Installing solar panels on our industrial buildings
- Using new technologies such as hydrogen, anaerobic digestion, battery storage and carbon capture and supporting the use of any clean technology
- Supporting and facilitating the Offshore wind sector including the newly announced Round 4 licences.
There are so many possibilities and ways to reduce our carbon emissions that don’t involve blighting our landscape, which our communities have told us many times before – they just don’t want.