Offshore Wind East of England 2023-11-28
2023-11-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns over the National Grid's proposal to install pylons and overhead powerlines between Norwich and Tilbury, which is seen as an ill-thought-out solution.
My constituents are angry about the ill-thought-out proposal by National Grid to impose 100 miles of pylons and overhead powerlines between Norwich and Tilbury. Will the Minister share with me, the House and my constituents what work he is doing to ensure that the Government do all they can to encourage National Grid and developers to build an offshore grid that will provide more investment and growth in renewables, and pull the plug on these awful pylons?
As my right hon. Friend knows, I visited East Anglia a few months ago and I plan to visit again. I hear the frustration and the concerns of her constituents, which she has brought to the House today. As she knows, the ESO remains responsible for electricity network design. Offshore routing is more expensive and the costs would be borne by consumers across the country. However, we will continue to engage with the ESO as it develops proposals that strike the balance of offshore and onshore infrastructure.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to working specifically to encourage National Grid and developers to prioritize building an offshore grid over imposing overhead powerlines.
Offering Continued Engagement With Eso
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question builds on the previous one, focusing specifically on the proposed pylons and overhead powerlines between Norwich and Tilbury.
My constituents are angry about the ill-thought-out proposal by National Grid to impose 100 miles of pylons and overhead powerlines between Norwich and Tilbury. Will the Minister share with me, the House and my constituents what work he is doing to ensure that the Government do all they can to encourage National Grid and developers to build an offshore grid that will provide more investment and growth in renewables, and pull the plug on these awful pylons?
As my right hon. Friend knows, I visited East Anglia a few months ago and I plan to visit again. I hear the frustration and the concerns of her constituents, which she has brought to the House today. As she knows, the ESO remains responsible for electricity network design. Offshore routing is more expensive and the costs would be borne by consumers across the country. However, we will continue to engage with the ESO as it develops proposals that strike the balance of offshore and onshore infrastructure.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to working specifically to encourage National Grid and developers to prioritize building an offshore grid over imposing overhead powerlines.
Offering Continued Engagement With Eso
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question concerns the threat of new 400 kV pylon lines in Angus, Scotland, instead of using subsea methods to transmit green energy south.
There are extraordinary levels of cheap green Scottish renewable energy transmitted to large consumers in industrial bases in the south by the network. This north-south transaction should rightly be done by subsea transmission cables, negating the need for onshore pylons and their attendant visual blight, environmental degradation, loss of productive farmland, costly compulsory purchase and wayleave charges. Why are Angus and other Scottish communities now threatened with a new 400 kV pylon line instead of transmitting that energy south using subsea methods?
The hon. Gentleman should probably direct that question to my Scottish Government counterparts, who are in the same party as him. He wants to ride roughshod over the Scottish planning system to allow for a faster deployment of this new energy infrastructure across Scotland, including in his and my own constituencies.
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Assessment & feedback
The answerer did not address why there is no commitment to use subsea transmission cables.
Redirecting The Question To Scottish Government Counterparts
Response accuracy