A glimmer of hope...

[AE-NMidlands]

in an otherwise miserable day... https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -windfarms says

Kwasi Kwarteng poised to ease planning rules for onshore windfarms

Wind could be more productive way than fracking to boost electricity supplies and bring down prices
Kwasi Kwarteng looks likely to lift a de facto ban on new onshore windfarms after the UK government said it would bring planning consent into line with that for other infrastructure.

It has been very difficult for onshore windfarms to get planning permission since David Cameron put in place a tough consent regime in 2015. Earlier this year, Kwarteng pushed for the restrictions to be lifted but he encountered cabinet opposition.

The regime will now be loosened, with the chancellor’s growth plan stating: “The government will unlock the potential of onshore wind by bringing consenting in line with other infrastructure. The UK is a world leader in offshore wind, with 8GW of offshore wind currently under construction. By 2023 the government is set to increase renewables capacity by 15%, supporting the UK’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.”

Although the government has trumpeted its decision to allow firms to explore fracking further, few experts think it is likely to produce much gas in the near future. Unblocking the potential for onshore wind projects could be a much quicker and more productive way of boosting electricity supplies and helping to bring down prices.

Some Conservative MPs oppose windfarms as a blight on the landscape but public attitudes are much more supportive of the technology.
etc

but I don't understand the "could!" I thought it was an open-and-shut case - with the govt wilfully ignoring established facts to appease their prejudiced backwoodsmen

[Ken]

yes i agree but it must be could until someone actually throws the switch. People might have made a lot of assumptions about gas in the past but look where we are now.