Where it started:

1. Where it started:

2. PPS22: The Government’s Objectives The Government’s energy policy, including its policy on renewable energy, is set out in the Energy White Paper2. This aims to put the UK on a path to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by some 60% by 2050, with real progress by 2020, and to maintain reliable and competitive energy supplies. The development of renewable energy, alongside improvements in energy efficiency and the development of combined heat and power, will make a vital contribution to these aims. The Government has already set a target to generate 10% of UK electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010. The White Paper set out the Government’s aspiration to double that figure to 20% by 2020, and suggests that still more renewable energy will be needed beyond that date.

3. PPS22: • KEY PRINCIPLES • Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should adhere to the following key principles in their approach to planning for renewable energy: • (i) Renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated throughout England in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic, and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily.

4. RSS: Renewable Energy Generation 3.177 Achieving the commitments set nationally by the Energy White Paper will require at least 40% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2060. In the shorter term the Government is committed to the achievement of 10% renewable electricity by 2010 and is aiming for 20% by 2020. Policy 39 RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION Strategies, plans and programmes, and planning proposals should: a. facilitate the generation of at least 10% of the Region’s consumption of electricity from renewable sources within the Region by 2010 (454 MW minimum installed capacity); b. aspire to further increase renewable electricity generation to achieve 20% of regional consumption by 2020; 3.194 In particular, Kielder Forest is highlighted as having significant potential for wind energy development on a regionally strategic scale. Realising the potential in this area will be essential to meeting the regional aspiration of 20% renewables by 2020, although this will be dependent on overcoming MoD constraints and any environmental constraints.

5. RSS: All Targets are not Equal “PPS22 states that RSSs should contain an indication of the output that might be expected to be achieved from offshore renewables, based on where the electricity comes ashore. The East Midlands, East of England, North East, South East, South West and Yorkshire and Humber have all identified a contribution from offshore renewables, although the way in which this is presented differs considerably. The East Midlands and East of England have identified a separate contribution from offshore renewables that is not included in their overall regional targets. The South East, South West, Yorkshire and Humber and the North West have included offshore renewables in their overall renewable energy targets, although this can be disaggregated from onshore projects. Owing to their geographical position, neither the West Midlands nor London have identified a contribution from offshore renewables. The North East has not considered offshore renewables in its existing targets, although it is expected that it may play a significant role by 2020.” Source: Renewable Energy Capacity in Regional Spatial Strategies – July 2009 Department for Communities and Local Government: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/renewableenergyreport.pdf

6. RSS: All Monitoring is not Equal 4.5 Monitoring The ways in which regional assemblies (RA) monitor and report progress towards meeting their renewable energy targets varies significantly across England. • installed capacity should be reported for (a) renewable energy developments / installations granted planning permission and (b) completed renewable energy developments / installations • where renewable energy technologies are aggregated in reporting, the aggregation should allow for comparison with the renewable energy statistics database supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (see www.restats.org.uk) Information sources and methods used by regional assemblies to monitor progress are summarised below: • RESTATS • BIS energy trends data • Ofgem ROC register • energy consumption data ...... Source: Renewable Energy Capacity in Regional Spatial Strategies – July 2009 Department for Communities and Local Government: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/renewableenergyreport.pdf

7. RSS: All Progress is not Equal 4.7 Conclusions Research reveals that the overarching message is one of variety across the regions. Key messages include: • variation in the way that renewable energy targets are presented, both in terms of form and content • variation in the treatment of offshore renewable energy contributions • variation in the scope and date of evidence bases, with a need to revisit assessments and targets, particularly in relation to sub-regional targets and 2020 targets • progress towards 2010 renewable energy targets range from 80% delivery in the South East to just 29% in the South West • progress towards 2020 targets range from 47% delivery in the West Midlands to 5% in the East Midlands • currently only 3.2% total electricity consumption in England is provided from renewable energy sources. A target of between 30% and 35% as proposed in the draft RES is therefore ambitious Source: Renewable Energy Capacity in Regional Spatial Strategies – July 2009 Department for Communities and Local Government: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/renewableenergyreport.pdf

8. Climate Change Act & Carbon Budgets • It is important to recognise that these reductions are based upon 1990 levels and they are reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. • The UK has already achieved a 22% reduction by 2008 • “the net UK carbon account in 2008 was 606.7 MtCO2e. • This is 22% below base year emissions, which were 777.8 MtCO2e” • http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx

9. National Targets • 10% of Electricity Consumption • 2020 20% “ “ • 34% CO2 reduction • 2060 40% of Electricity Consumption • North East Targets: • 454MW Installed Capacity • 2020 20% of Electricity Consumption • Northumberland Targets: • 212MW Installed Capacity • 2020 20% of Electricity Consumption

10. Is the Policy a Success? How do we judge our progress towards these targets? We need two sets of information: Electricity Consumption Renewable Energy development information.

11. 1. Electricity Consumption.

14. 2. Renewable Energy development information. • The RESTATS project: • Provides accurate up-to-date energy statistics from UK renewable energy sources. • Holds information on electricity, heat and liquid biofuels • Provides a means of monitoring progress against the UK target of 10% of electricity from renewables by 2010 • Provides data that are used to assess the UK’s performance from a European and World-wide perspective • Is a source of credible data for Government and industry • Shows the effects of legislative changes; eg changes to clinical incineration practices • Is key to assessing the success of the renewable energy technologies and progress to targets introduced in the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive.

15. Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD) • In parallel and complimenting RESTATS, the REPD project tracks the progress of new projects from inception, through planning, construction and operational stages. • These data are used to • Make forecastsabout when targets for electricity generation from renewable energy sources might be achieved; failure to do so would result in financial penalties to the UK • Helpidentify where problems may be occurring in policy, incentive mechanisms and in the planning process • Provide good quality information to Government to assist in evidence-based policy making.

17. Renewable Energy Required

18. Renewable Energy Required Renewable Energy Already Approved

19. Renewable Energy Required Renewable Energy Already Approved Note this does not include the 395MW Generation, Tyne REP & Blyth Biomass with IPC

20. This is what you have now - What the public can now see. National Aim for All Renewable Energy 2060 including Off-Shore wind All data from Department of Energy & Climate Control – DECC February 2011

21. This is what has been Agreed to: Planning Approvals. National Aim for All Renewable Energy 2060 including Off-Shore wind All data from Department of Energy & Climate Control – DECC February 2011

22. Northumberland is way ahead of any other County in England with On-Shore Wind Farm Approvals. And nobody has even the grace to show some appreciation. Should we not be shouting to all and sundry just how well Northumberland is doing to clean up every other County’s CO2? What about that original first Key Principle of PPS22 ? “Renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated throughout England in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic, and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. “

23. Northumberland is way ahead of any other County in England with On-Shore Wind Farm Approvals. • The next nearest is Durham • Apart from our neighbour Durham, we have been made to accept: • three times as much as the next nearest County; • 10 times as much as all but 8; • 20 times as much as the median; • 40 times as much as East Sussex or • Bristol, Somerset & Gloucester combined; • Hampshire has approved none at all • (These are the counties of Energy Ministers Chris Huhne, Charles Hendry and Planning Inspectorate.)

24. How We Compare

25. This is what has been Agreed to: Planning Approvals. National Aim for All Renewable Energy 2060 including Off-Shore wind All data from Department of Energy & Climate Control – DECC February 2011

26. This is what the position Will Be without effective Control National Aim for All Renewable Energy 2060 including Off-Shore wind All data from Department of Energy & Climate Control – DECC February 2011

27. The Control is Policy • Other Planning Authorities are instituting Policy • To protect their Environment • To protect the Amenity of their Residents • To protect their Landscape • Has the Policy been adequate in Northumberland? • Will it be adequate in the future? • Can Control be re-established quickly enough?

28. An example – Lincolnshire Consultative Draft: • http://committee.west-lindsey.gov.uk/comm_mins/documents/DPSC/Reports/DPSC0075RAPP1.pdf • APPENDIX B – SUGGESTED POLICY • The County Council considers that onshore wind energy developments are only acceptable • where they do not conflict with following criteria:- • Landscape and Visual Impact • located outside highly sensitive landscape areas as defined in Landscape Character Assessments; • located outside of areas defined in Landscape Character Assessments as having a low landscape capacity to visually accommodate turbine development are unacceptable as wind turbine locations; • located outside of the LincolnshireWolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only in exceptional circumstances in locations which would have a dominant impact upon the designated area, for example within a 0 – 400 metre zone around the boundary of the LincolnshireWolds Area of • Outstanding Natural Beauty. Between 400 metres to 2km wind turbines over 100 metres in height are also considered inappropriate; • located sufficient distance from town and villages so as not to be too prominent, for example, outside of a 0 – 400 metres Zone around settlements (town and villages) and no large turbines over 100 metres in height in the zone of prominence extending to 2km from settlement boundaries;

29. An example – Lincolnshire Consultative Draft: • http://committee.west-lindsey.gov.uk/comm_mins/documents/DPSC/Reports/DPSC0075RAPP1.pdf • located so as not to diminish the visual experience of an acknowledged view point, for example, outside of a 10 km visibility cone of an acknowledged view point as shown on Ordnance Survey maps; • new wind farms within 10km of existing wind farms (including on and off shore wind farms) need to demonstrate they would not merge with the existing developments, thereby resulting in a negative cumulative visual impact; • there is a presumption against wind turbine developments on the grounds of negative cumulative visual impact, unless demonstrated otherwise, in the following circumstances:- • - turbines detached by more than 500 metres but within 4km of an existing turbine development; • - settlements of more than 10 dwellings should not have wind turbine developments in more than 90° of their field of view, this normally equates to 10km from windows in residential properties; • - individual dwellings should not have wind turbines in more than 180° of their field of view.

30. An example – Lincolnshire Consultative Draft: • http://committee.west-lindsey.gov.uk/comm_mins/documents/DPSC/Reports/DPSC0075RAPP1.pdf • b) Impact on the Historic and Natural Environment • Wind turbine development should not take place in locations where: • - the context of a historic garden, park, battlefield or designated conservation area would be visually compromised (normally a 2km zone should be avoided dependent upon a site specific assessment); • - the visual dominance of Lincoln Cathedral would be compromised; (see also Regional Plan Policy SR10); • - the visual significance of church spires and historic/architecturally important buildings would be compromised. Wind turbine development within 2km of such buildings should be avoided and up to 5km where there is likely to be “conspicuous” impact; • - defined areas of historic landscape importance, as defined by the Historic Landscape Characterisation project, and to protect the integrity of such sites in the immediate vicinity, for example, a 2km area around them; • - the development would be in or in proximity to an international site of nature conservation interest (normally a 2km distance) and of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (on average 40 metres, although this may extend to 800 metres with regard to a site of important ornithological interest); • - the development would be within the Coastal Conservation Area or other form of designated conservation area.

31. An example – Lincolnshire Consultative Draft: • http://committee.west-lindsey.gov.uk/comm_mins/documents/DPSC/Reports/DPSC0075RAPP1.pdf • c) Residential Amenity • Amenity of existing residential occupants must be maintained at an acceptable level, therefore the following criteria shall be applied:- • no wind farm developments shall be constructed in close proximity of a residential property (the accepted distance for separation is 700 metres) and only upon the provision of an assessment demonstrating acceptable noise levels within 700 metres to 2km; • no wind turbines shall be constructed within a distance of a factor of ten times the diameter of the blades of a residential property to mitigate against flicker, unless intervening topography/structures negates the impact. • d) Related Infrastructure • The presumption is for connecting cables to be placed underground and use made of existing or replacement pylons (of the same size and scale) along existing routes to carry the additional base load cabling.

32. Regional ComparisonAll Renewable Energy DECC : 15th Feb 2011

33. Have Northumberland and NE residents received the same protection as in other areas?

34. We not only do more in Planning We also do more in Reducing Electricity Consumption

35. And a little more in Reducing Gas Consumption Source: DECC Energy Trends, Dec.2010, p44

36. Sub-Regional target • During the 2006 RSS EiP sub regional targets were discussed. • The Ove Arup view: • “several participants commented on the fact that policy 40 requires • Northumberland to provide the largest proportion of future renewable • generation. It was suggested that the targets should be re-balanced to • provide a more equitable distribution throughout the region. However, in • our view the targets must reflect the opportunities for increased • generation which are themselves a reflection of geography, settlement • pattern and development potential. Hence sub-regional targets cannot be • based on the proportion of existing consumption or any other proportional • population based measurement” However the 2006 discussion revolved around the potential for wind. We now have seen the potential for RE generation in urban areas: ‘As the project will run 24 hours per day, 365 days per annum, it will generate as much renewable electricity as a 1,000MWe offshore wind farm  (equivalent to that generated by the London Array wind farm which is one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world)’ MGT Power. ‘Biomass Power Station, Teesport: Final Scoping Report’, April 2008. A similar 1000MWe Biomass plant is proposed for the Tyne

37. North East Energy Mix

38. North East Energy Mix Actual Approved

39. RSS Predicted 2020 Renewable Energy Mix Versus Actual Approved RE Mix RSS Predicted Consumption: 15,000 GWh/pa (1711 MWe) Actual Consumption 2009: 13,720 GWh/pa (1565 MWe) Current Prediction 2020: <10,000 GWhr/pa (1140 Mwe) ??? Notes: The Approvals above are to 15th Feb 2011 according to RESTATS – not including Undetermined/Tyne REP/Blyth Biomass Renewable Heat is NOT included. Offshore Wind is NOT included.

40. North East Renewable Energy Mix Potential

41. North East Renewable Energy Mix RSS Predicted 2020 Potential Current 2020 Potential

42. IF this is about Climate ChangeYou have a choice .... 100MW Continuous Biomass 80MW Intermittent Wind OR Rural Urban

43. Summary of Main Issues • All Renewable Energy targets are related to Consumption • The NE region is far exceeding the other English Regions • Northumberland has already approved 4 times as much Wind generation as any other English County outside the NE. • Much of this is “enforced”; decisions are taken away from local people and their residents and being made by Inspectors from PINS and Ministers. • Energy Ministers are taking less than 1/100thof our commitment. • The PINS “Obergrupenfuhrers” (as described in Westminster) take only 1/40th in the area around their base. • We are already well beyond the 2060 aims, what more are we going to be forced to do? • Policy must be updated to reflect actual figures – prediction errors must be corrected. • How can this be called Fair and Balanced?

44. KEY MESSAGES • Time to take stock on targets. • County Council need to re-establish robust and effective policy control in response to excessive windfarm proposals. • The Localism Agenda on its own will not work – a better balance in Planning Policy and Guidance is needed to redress the balance between developers and local communities. • Other Councils are saying Enough is Enough, while some Councils are keeping very quiet about doing very little! • We have met and exceeded (in terms of consented applications) the targets required. Northumberland can now afford to be selective about what else it will accept • We must now use actual data not erroneous prediction. • REQUESTS: • Officers be asked to confirm and validate the data in this presentation as a matter of urgency. • this issue be referred to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee for additional consideration and/or to the LDP Working Group – possibly a joint venture of both.