A council leader has said people who live near wind farms should be given free electricity as he backed calls for an overhaul of rules surrounding renewable development.

East Lothian Councillor Norman Hampshire spoke out as he backed a motion calling on the UK and Scottish Government to give more power over decisions on energy projects to local authorities.

The cross party motion, introduced by Scottish Greens councillor Shona McIntosh, at a meeting of the council this week, called on council leader Mr Hampshire to write to the governments urging them to create a planning strategy for renewable development, improve community benefits and involvement and review the effectiveness of the Energy Consent Unit (ECU) which currently grants permission for projects, including battery energy stora

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