U.K.wind-farm u-turn avoids court

Britain’s decision to restart subsidies for onshore wind farms avoided a potential pitfall after a late settlement on a court case, which the judge said would put the country in a better position to deal with climate change.

The government and a wind farm developer, Banks Renewables, reached an accord late last week just before Judge Neil Garnham was to read his verdict. Garnham didn’t detail his potential ruling, but said withholding his decision meant the U.K. had a better chance at reducing emissions.

The Conservative-led government this month reversed its position on land-based wind farms, lifting a four-year ban on subsidies, in a sign that ministers are looking for more ways to meet a goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The government cut support to the technology after residents in rural areas said that more installations were blighting the visual appeal of the countryside.

“The withdrawal of this claim by consent gives legal certainty” about the government subsidies program “that serves to improve the prospect for renewable energy,” the judge said. He didn’t give details on what would’ve been in his written ruling.

The two sides asked Garnham not to release his judgment, saying that it might damage the U.K.’s support for renewable energy projects and hurt the country’s chances of meeting emissions targets. The government will pay the costs of Banks Renewables as part of the settlement agreement, Gerry Facenna, a lawyer for the business department, said Friday in court.