Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Net Zero Transition: Rural Economies

Tuesday 10 June 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chipping Community Energy in Ribble Valley is a ground source heat loop feasibility project.
  • Mr Speaker acknowledged the project and the importance of community energy groups in the transition to decarbonisation.
  • Mr Andrew Snowden raised concerns about rural economies being damaged by infrastructure for the net zero transition.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Maya Ellis Lab Ribble Valley
Climate Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question pertains to the impact of transitioning to net zero on rural economies, referencing a local ground source heat loop feasibility project in Chipping Community Energy.

Question

Many happy returns, Mr Speaker. Chipping Community Energy in my constituency is a brilliant ground source heat loop feasibility project. We know that grid infrastructure is weaker in rural areas, and there is a risk that more remote areas get left behind in the move to decarbonisation, in the same way that they did with the broadband roll-out. Will the Minister share what role she sees local initiatives, like Chipping Community Energy, playing in our overall plans for energy security and affordability, and what steps she is taking to help such projects to provide more cheap energy to our rural communities?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Kerry McCarthy)

That sounds like a great project. We are absolutely committed to recognising the role that community energy groups, like the Chipping Community Land Trust, can play in ensuring that communities directly benefit from the energy transition. The trust was awarded £100,000 through the former rural community energy fund, and GB Energy is continuing that work through its community fund, helping to unleash the wave of community energy projects that the Secretary of State spoke about earlier. The Government and Ofgem will be working to tackle policy and regulatory barriers to these projects happening.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Snowden Con Fylde
Climate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question addresses the potential negative impacts of infrastructure development for net zero transition, particularly in rural areas.

Question

In the context of the dash to net zero, rural economies can also be damaged by the infrastructure that is being put in. The Morgan and Morecambe wind farm cabling corridor and substations will cause damage to rural businesses over 20 miles along the cabling route, including disruption caused during the construction stage. What efforts is the Minister making to assess cases in which the infrastructure that is being put in place does more damage to rural economies than it benefits them?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Kerry McCarthy)

If rural communities are to benefit from the clean energy transition, it is important that they play a role in hoping to host the new infrastructure. When the Great British Energy Bill went through Parliament, there was much discussion about ensuring that communities that host the new infrastructure do not lose out. I can send the hon. Gentleman details of exactly how his community can engage with that process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific measures to assess and mitigate damage from infrastructure projects

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