Hundreds off bill if you back wind turbines

FAMILIES could be offered hundreds of pounds off their energy bills if they agree to have a wind farm nearby under plans set to be announced today. Ministers will launch a consultation to ensure local communities can benefit from the development of new onshore wind farms where there is local support. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps is set to confirm that families who choose to support onshore wind can benefit directly through lower bills when he unveils his ‘Powering Up Britain’ plan.

Ministers have previously looked at a scheme where households would receive up to £350 a year off their bill in return for supporting the construction of a local wind farm.

Mr Shapps is also due to confirm that the Government will rebalance gas and electricity costs in household bills, making electricity bills cheaper.

When Rishi Sunak entered No 10, he scrapped moves to relax the planning laws that have led to a virtual moratorium on wind farms since 2015.

But he faced a mounting backbench rebellion after an amendment was tabled to allow onshore wind where there is community consent.

Labour then joined forces with the rebels to support the amendment and No 10 was forced to rethink.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said last night: ‘We have always been clear that we support the development of onshore wind where there is local support.

‘Today’s package of measures ensures councils will have more flexibility to respond to the views of their residents, while we will shortly consult on further measures so that communities that choose to support onshore wind in their area can benefit directly from doing so, including through lower bills.’

Ex-prime minister David Cameron introduced an effective ban on onshore wind farms in 2015.

Developers were forced to address all local concerns about a potential wind farm and just one person could hold up an entire project.

Calls to end the ban on new onshore wind farms have grown amid efforts to secure the UK’s energy independence as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has squeezed supplies.