Rupert Soames, the chief executive of Aggreko, the FTSE 250 emergency power generator, says the UK must prepare seriously for the danger of being hit by similar blackouts within the next decade. "It has happened before in developed countries and we should not kid ourselves that it cannot happen here," he said in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph. "The UK has an unacceptably high risk of interrupted power supply." ...sceptics worry that a so-called "intelligent grid" could also be used to ration consumers in the event of insufficient capacity.

Western Isles Council has approved a controversial giant £120million wind farm for Eishken on Lewis. ...There was no debate or discussion on the issue, so councillors unanimously backed the building of 39 huge turbines on the South Lochs estate. ...Campaigners are furious that the Government has not required a brand new planning application for the latest bid which would have resulted in a more thorough consultation.

Energy experts at Carter Jonas in Peterborough have welcomed the lifting of a policy restriction against wind farm development in and around Oundle and Thrapston and nearby rural locations. For some time now, the energy team specialists have been urging local authorities to accommodate national targets for renewable energy when it comes to local planning policies and to ensure that development is appropriate in terms of location and being sustainable.

A conservation charity fears allegedly inaccurate claims of long-term economic benefit may lead to the Scottish Government approving a major windfarm on Lewis, despite environmental concerns. A report, commissioned by the John Muir Trust, claims that the benefits of the Muaitheabhal windfarm have been "grossly exaggerated" by the developer, Beinn Mhor Power.

Demand for power from homes and businesses will exceed supply from the national grid within eight years, according to official figures. The shortage of supplies will hit the equivalent of many as 16 million families for at least one hour during the year, it is forecast. Not since the early 1970s when the three-day week was introduced to preserve coal has Britain faced the prospect of reationing energy use.

Developers of wind turbines and other energy schemes need to learn to work with - not against - local communities to get their plans approved, according to a new UK government study. There's BLOT- Belvoir Locals Opposing Turbines, there's HALT in Beccles, there's AMP in Matlock and SOUL- Save Our Unspoiled Landscape in Berwickshire. All over the country there are groups - more than 150 of them at the last count - fighting against renewable energy projects in their neighbourhoods.

BT has submitted a report to North Devon Council about plans to build three giant wind turbines at Greater Shelfin Farm near Mullacott. ...The proposal has already met strong opposition. Bill Wilson, owner of Mullacott Cross Caravan Park , said: "It would be a huge blot on the landscape blocking views that people come from the city to see.

Lochaber's first windfarm was given the go-ahead yesterday, but it took the votes of councillors from outwith the area to approve the controversial four-turbine project. Caol and Mallaig councillors Bill Clark, Allan Henderson and Donald Cameron all opposed the development by Edinburgh-based North British Windpower, but an amendment by Black Isle councillor, Isabel McCallum, seconded by her Lochalsh colleague, Isabel Campbell, won the vote 6-3.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband today unveiled new proposals to tackle delays to grid connection. Hold-ups have left some UK wind farm projects facing waits of up to 14 years before they can start delivering power to the grid. Under the current system, new energy projects are given a connection date on a first come, first served basis, which has resulted in about 200 projects with more than 60GW of generation capacity awaiting connection.

Controversial plans to build a wind farm near Aberford have been blown away by councillors. The city council's east plans panel has turned down a developer's proposal to put five 125m-tall wind turbines in the green belt on Hook Moor just north of Micklefield. A council report said the application was refused because it would adversely impact on the Precision Approach Radar at RAF Church Fenton and impact upon the Primary Surveillance Radar at RAF Linton on Ouse.

Ministers are considering whether to establish a "conservation bank" to help overcome planning objections to wind farms and other renewable-energy projects. Planning problems have held back British onshore wind farms. Vestas blamed nimby (not in my back yard) objections for its recent decision to shut Britain's only wind-turbine plant, on the Isle of Wight (see panel below). Vestas and other energy groups say planning delays and uncertainties make it riskier to invest in Britain than in other countries.

Last month, the government announced plans to boost the green energy sector, yet within weeks Vestas UK, the UK's only manufacturer of wind turbine blades, closed its plant on the Isle of Wight. The Report's Simon Cox examines the obstacles which could prevent the government's green rhetoric turning into reality.

Military officials have warned RAF Cranwell planes could be affected by proposals to build eight 125-metre turbines in the Lincolnshire countryside. The RAF base and those at Waddington and Coningsby have been identified as sites that would be unable to provide a full Air Traffic Radar service if Enertrag UK erected turbines on land between Baumber and Wispington, near Horncastle.

Aberdeenshire councillors were cheered when they agreed to throw out plans for a windfarm on a scenically important hill between the Don and Dee valleys. The response came from campaigners opposed to a Welsh company's plans, attending a meeting at the Stewart's Hall in Huntly on Tuesday. Members of the Marr Area Committee accepted the view of their planners that the proposed wind turbines would have an unacceptable impact, on a sensitive site, close to the Cairngorms National Park.

Plans for a windfarm on the ridge of a popular north-east hill which attracted hundreds of objections have been thrown out by councillors. The bid for a seven-turbine scheme near Cushnie, Alford, was unanimously rejected yesterday in the wake of mass public opposition. Nearly 600 letters were received by Aberdeenshire Council opposing the windfarm on Pressendye hill, three miles from the border with Cairngorms National Park.

Construction of a wind farm at Logiealmond could have a significant impact on wildlife, according to opponents of the proposal. According to consultant ecologist Nigel Rudd there would be a knock-on effect to birds and animals in the area if the 14-turbine development went ahead. "Modification of the habitat resource could significantly alter the attractiveness of the site to certain species.

A power fault has shut down nearly a quarter of the turbines at Little Cheyne Court on Romney Marsh - the biggest onshore wind farm in the south of England - just a month after it was officially opened. Seven out of the 26 wind turbines on the isolated land on the Kent-East Sussex border have been hit by technical problems.

Wind turbines are the symbol for the UK's green revolution but as factories close the industry has warned it is being kept in the slow lane by "archaic" planning laws.

Nearly 600 letters of objection have been sent to Aberdeenshire Council calling for the refusal of plans for seven wind turbines on the ridge of Pressendye hill, near Cushnie. Council planners have agreed with objectors and recommended the proposal for refusal over fears that the 410ft turbines would have "unacceptable adverse visual impacts" on the surrounding countryside.

The wind farm has faced opposition from environmental groups Plans for a massive Shetland Islands wind farm which campaigners believe will have a devastating effect on the environment could be blocked by a landmark report. A report by the Scottish Parliament last week warned of the "significant adverse" impact of another wind farm on Lewis in the Hebrides.