Plans for a massive expansion of a wind energy programme in the UK are to be unveiled by the Government.
They will include the building of 7000 wind turbines both in the countryside and around the coast.
Sustainable energy schemes will become much more common, and change to our landscapes, towns and cities is inevitable, the government will say.
Faced with ageing nuclear power stations, soaring oil prices and a need to cut Britain’s CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, Prime Minister Gordon Brown is determined to press ahead with a green energy blueprint to transform how the UK generates its power.
This will include a new generation of nuclear power stations being built alongside a huge expansion in wind energy.
Many proposed wind farm schemes have become bogged down by red tape with more than 7,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity stuck in the planning system.
But a new Planning Bill will see the application system streamlined so farms can be brought onstream much more quickly.
Individuals and communities will be encouraged to get involved and set up co-operative schemes to buy, run and produce their own electricity.
The Government is committed to obtaining 15 per cent of all its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and offshore wind power has been identified as the key factor in reaching the target.
Up to half of the target will have to come from electricity, meaning a third of electricity will have to come from renewables by 2020.
The UK has the best wind resources in Europe and although only 2.4GW of power comes from wind farms at the moment, another 19GW is in development.
The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) estimates that within five years the UK will be able to obtain as much power from wind as it does from nuclear plants.
The wind energy industry is confident of delivering 33GW of electricity – more than one-third of our current generating capacity – by 2020 as long as policy and planning obstacles are removed.
Capacity from wind has been growing at 86 per cent per year and the UK is about to overtake Denmark as the world’s largest generator of onshore wind power.
The Government will claim that polling has shown that the vast majority of people – 80 per cent – favour the use of wind power and that almost two-thirds (64 per cent) would be happy to live within 5km of a wind power development.
When he makes the announcement, Energy Minister John Hutton will claim that wind farms are capable of bringing massive economic and social benefits to communities.
He will say that in Denmark, 80 per cent of onshore wind turbines are owned by individuals or wind co-operatives while in Spain developers are required to identify the benefits they will bring to the local economy through job creation and the use of local suppliers.
As well as cutting carbon emissions and reducing dependency on oil and gas, a growing wind industry would offer business opportunities and could create as many as 160,000 new jobs by 2020.
The Government hopes that its firm plans will encourage investors to pump more money into renewable energy schemes and help stimulate the growth of a turbine manufacturing industry.
At the moment demand outstrips supply and with only two major manufacturers -Siemens and Vestas – there is a two-year waiting list for turbines to be delivered.
The Government also plans to push ahead with plans to upgrade the electricity grid to ensure the delivery of green electricity and also to overcome fears by the Ministry of Defence that big offshore wind farms will interfere with radar.
Several schemes have been delayed because of late planning objections by the MoD.
The plans were welcomed by environmental groups.
Friends of the Earth said the renewable energy consultation would a golden opportunity for the Government to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and spiralling fuel prices.
Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "If the government actually means it this time then Britain will become a better, safer and more prosperous country. We could create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and use less gas, and in the long run our power bills will come down. But it won’t happen without real government action."
