East Anglia's MPs unite to scrutinise new off-shore wind energy grid
The Off Shore Electricity Grid Task Force has been set up to review to the Government’s Offshore Network Transmission Review
East Anglia's MPs are uniting to protect local communities from the worst effects of a new off-shore wind energy grid.
The Off Shore Electricity Grid Task Force say they support the Governments plans, but fear 'connection points' could significantly impact the environment, if not scrutinised.
They also argue the impact of the project on local communities has also been overlooked so far.
Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland and member of the group told us that creating this organisation gives local communities a stronger voice: "When we get together like we have with this group, with colleagues from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, we massively increase our power.
"We have a coherent voice both to gain information from the industry and concerned bodies, but also to help advise the Government. We are on the Government's side and we want them to succeed".
He also went on to say that the region needs to be directly reimbursed for any damages caused by the project: "We need to make sure that the companies who cause damage compensate both the environment and the local communities that are most adversely affected.
"My view is that any compensation fund should be heavily focussed on the communities most affected. This is about compensating the communities, so they should be in charge".
He added that the overall plan should be more ambitious: "The problem is how do we get from our standing start to this very big piece of kit in the Northern Sea. The Government is saying it will take until at least 2050 to get there. But we're saying that you need to go quicker than that, and in the meantime you need to delay some connections, so you can take advantage in the long-term".
He concluded by saying that a longer period of investment is needed for the Government to get a better deal: "Operators and developers saved in the cost it takes to install this piece of kit. The cost of operating them come down with off-shore transmission network. So we just need to encourage the industry and the Government to extend their investment horizon and that will help them to take the right decision".