The government’s decision comes after a five-year ban on onshore wind farms was lifted.
According to the Guardian, the ban – put in place by David Cameron’s government in June 2015 – provoked the reaction of the onshore wind industry, which labelled it a “costly political intervention.”
The new round, which will open in 2021, will include measures to promote renewable electricity generation such as floating offshore wind, as well as new guidelines for developers to ensure that communities have a say in whether projects can proceed.
In England, communities will have a final say and no onshore wind farm will be built without communities’ approval.
The scheme will also add 20,600 new jobs and facilitate energy storage, creating £628m of exports a year.
Business and energy secretary of state Alok Sharma: “Ending our contribution to climate change means making the UK a world leader in renewable energy.
