Reema Mannah explains why law firms are recruiting renewable specialists
The UK is legally bound to deliver a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2050 and at least 34% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. As part of these ambitions, which are enshrined in the Climate Change Act 2008, we also have an obligation to hit an EU target of generating 15% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.
For “renewable sources” read solar, wave and wind power. According to Renewable UK—the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries—wind has been the world’s fastest growing energy source of recent years. Currently in the UK there are 257 operational wind farms; 26 under construction; 199 consented wind farm projects; and 268 in planning.
The political and legal commitment for delivering renewables (and especially wind power) has already been translated into planning policy. While the number of planning applications for wind farms continues to rise, so too does the volume of responses and objections. This situation has driven a noticeable increase in the creation of specialist renewables teams within
