A
BILL
TO
Restrict the height, number, location and operation of wind turbines situated
offshore within twenty miles of the coast; to restrict subsidies available for
such turbines; and to make provision regulating the length, location and
environmental impact of cables connecting such turbines to the National Grid;
and for connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1)
No wind turbine shall be constructed or erected within fifteen miles of the
coast of England and Wales from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2)
No wind turbine shall be constructed or erected within twenty miles of the
5coast of England and Wales to a height exceeding 100m as measured by the
highest point of the turbine blade above sea level from the date of
commencement of this Act.
(3)
No wind turbine shall be constructed or erected off shore if it would form part
of a group of wind turbines which totals more than one hundred and no group
10of wind turbines shall be constructed or erected off shore within fifteen miles
of any other such group.
(4)
No wind turbine shall be constructed or erected offshore within twenty miles
of any World Heritage site.
(5)
For the purposes of this Act any distance between a wind turbine and the coast
15shall be measured by a direct line between the wind turbine and the closest
point on the mainland.
No wind turbine situated in or within five miles of an established area used by
migrating birds shall be operated during the season for bird migration.
Control of Offshore Wind Turbines BillPage 2
(1)
This section applies to any wind turbine constructed or erected off the coast of
England and Wales which is to be connected by cable to the National Grid.
(2)
No cable connection to the National Grid shall extend inland from the shore by
5more than a maximum of two miles.
(3)
No cable connection to the National Grid shall be constructed in a National
Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or in any location subject to
protection under the Habitats Directive.
(4)
Any onshore cable connection to the National Grid shall be placed in a tunnel
10under the ground.
No tax-payer funded payments in excess of the prevailing wholesale price of
electricity shall be made in respect of electricity generated from wind turbines
offshore from England and Wales constructed or erected after the date of
15commencement of this Act.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Control of Offshore Wind Turbines Act 2015.
(2) This Act shall come into force at Royal Assent.
(3) The provisions of this Act shall apply to England and Wales.