Ed Milliband has been accused of ignoring opposition to a new £4 billion wind farm in the Channel.
The Energy Secretary has approved plans for dozens of turbines as tall as the Eiffel Tower to be built, called Rampion 2. The 50-mile development will stretch from Brighton to Bognor Regis. The turbines are part of Milliband’s plan to hit net zero.
Mr Miliband said: “This project puts us within reach of our clean power offshore wind target. It’s time to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster, roll out clean power, protect our energy security and bring down bills for good.
“The UK has a boundless supply of wind that cannot be turned on and off at the whims of dictators and petrostates.”
This go-ahead comes despite objections from locals who worry it will damage ecosystems and wreck views. Many are angry at the “industrialisation” of England’s seasides and the damage done by cables and substations.
One said that after the wind farm is built: “There will be no place on the West Sussex coast that the horizon is not dominated by them by day and night.”
Brighton and Hove Council and the South Downs National Park Authority have warned that they will ruin views.
The latter said: “Their proximity to the coastline, size, number and spread would have significant adverse effects on the character and setting of the national park.”
The Littlehampton East Beach Residents Association said the scheme would “disrupt and permanently degrade ecosystems in the sea, on the land and in the air, both during construction and operation. It will substantially degrade intrinsic values of the natural seascape and landscape impacting on the wellbeing of many.”
The Rampion project is led by RWE on behalf of joint venture partners, all of which are foreign-owned.
Danielle Lane of RWE said: “Rampion 2 can play an important role in helping secure the UK’s energy supplies from our abundant wind resource and play a key role in supporting the UK Government’s clean power ambitions.”
