Suffolk MP calls for pause to 'dishing out' of energy connections
She wants to make sure brownfield sites are used
A Suffolk MP has called for a pause to the ‘dishing out’ of energy connections.
Thérèse Coffey, who represents the Suffolk Coastal constituency, called for the pause during a debate in Westminster Hall last Thursday on large-scale solar farms.
During the debate, she acknowledged the Government’s commitment to increase solar capacity to 70 gigawatts by 2035 but argued it should not be done at the expense of the countryside.
She said: “I, like others, am seeking a moratorium on connections until there is a steady state of understanding what is happening in this fair and beautiful land.”
Ms Coffey added that the acceleration of solar infrastructure, as well as the ‘almost blank cheque’ being given to developers, farmers, and landowners, was having a cumulative impact in rural Suffolk.
She added: “I get the impression that it is just approving or dishing out connections to anybody at all, without necessarily thinking through what the impact will be on food security or our countryside.
“Let us not go at breakneck speed and end up breaking our necks in this regard.”
In her speech, the Suffolk MP also went on to call for more action in making sure brownfield sites are used for energy production to ensure food security.
She singled out Friston, which has recently been put forward by National Grid as one of three proposed landfall sites for a converter station and substation as part of the LionLink project despite continued calls for a brownfield alternative to be sued instead.
Ms Coffey said: “None of it includes a single pylon; we are not talking about pylons here, but there has definitely been a pile-in on the people of that village.
“It is up to the developers to show that they have considered brownfield sites and I think we need some strength and confidence that that really is being done.”
A spokesperson for National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) said: “Great Britain’s electricity system is the backbone of our economy and must be fit for our future.
“The ESO is committed to delivering reforms to the connections process to ensure it is flexible and future-proofed to support the future co-ordination of network design.
“As part of our ongoing work to reform the connections process alongside Government, Ofgem and industry we have proposed a new first ready, first connected process to be applied retrospectively to existing applications.
“These reforms will streamline the connections process and ensure that only projects ready to deliver move forward with their connections applications.”