The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, has responded to a set of challenging questions on energy and the landscape from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [1]. The Q&A has now been posted online and members of the public are invited to join in the debate.

Notes for Editors

Get involved! The initial questions and answers can be accessed at www.cpre.org.uk/debates. CPRE is now inviting the public to add their questions to the blog. Ed Miliband will be responding at the end of July.

Ed Miliband clarified his controversial statement that it should ‘be socially unacceptable to be against wind turbines in your area – like not wearing a seatbelt or driving past a zebra crossing’. He now acknowledges that ‘local communities do have an important role’ and that ‘there are some places where wind farms may not be suitable’. He also says that new energy infrastructure in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty could only be justified ‘in exceptional circumstances’.  

In answers to other questions, Mr Miliband refuses to rule out more opencast coal mining, but he does reaffirm his commitment to fitting all new coal power stations with Carbon Capture and Storage[2].

Welcoming the opportunity to discuss issues directly Ed Miliband said:

‘The contribution our countryside makes to the well-being of the whole country is as important now as ever – and we know that protecting the countryside from the devastating impacts of climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face.  Thank you CPRE for giving me the chance to talk with your members.’

Shaun Spiers, CPRE’s Chief Executive said:

‘We are delighted that Ed Miliband has agreed to address the very difficult question of how to get the energy infrastructure the country needs in order to keep the lights on and combat climate change, without unacceptably damaging the countryside. How can we save the environment without trashing the landscape?

‘These questions aren’t going to go away. They are asked every time a new wind farm is proposed. And communities asked to accept intrusive new renewable energy infrastructure such as wind farms will ask how serious the Government is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions when it is still prepared to allow carbon intensive opencast mining.

‘Energy debates are highly complex. On wind farms, it often seems that there is no debate – just impassioned arguments from both sides with neither side listening to the other. CPRE is clear that we need to act now to combat climate change and that this will mean a big increase in renewable energy. Onshore wind farms have a role to play – but only where they will not cause unacceptable damage to the countryside and where they have been subject to proper democratic planning scrutiny. 

‘We see this blog as the start of a discussion with the Government on these very important issues. We hope that as many people as possible, both CPRE members and the wider public will participate. We look forward to seeing Ed Miliband’s final response and congratulate him on having the confidence to start the debate.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

2. This is a technology which can capture carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and safely store these emissions underground for extended periods of time.