Update (July 19th 2022): I took part in the Westminster Hall debate introduced by my fellow Essex MP, Sir Bernard Jenkin, on Tuesday 19th July. You can read the full debate here:
Update (July 2022): I am one of 13 MPs calling for National Grid UK to reopen the East Anglia GREEN pylon consultation. Protection of rural communities must be given the same weight in East Anglia as in other parts of the UK.
I've been getting a steady flow of emails from constituents, notably in Ingatestone, expressing concerns about the East Anglia Green Energy Enablement (GREEN) project.
East Anglia GREEN is a proposal to build a new high voltage network reinforcement between Norwich, Bramford and Tilbury to ensure there is the capability needed to reliably and securely transport all the energy that will be connected by 2030. The current proposal for our constituency mostly comprises overhead lines and pylons.
A public consultation ran until 16 June 2022, during which National Grid hoped to hear from stakeholders, local residents, land owners and anyone else who is interested in the proposal. You can find out more via this webpage.
It is important to stress that the project still needs to obtain ‘development consent’ under procedures governed by the Planning Act 2008 before it can proceed. However, I am in close contact with fellow Members of Parliament whose constituencies are also affected by the proposal, and we are looking into what options are, and should be available to allow everyone to access the energy we need without drastically changing the landscape.
On that note, my colleague, James Cartlidge MP, has sent a joint letter to the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP - I endorse James' letter and I have written to Minister Hands outlining constituents' concerns. I share the view of many of my constituents and fellow MPs that, as far as is practicable, new offshore generated electricity should be transmitted offshore.
On Monday 20 June, some of my colleagues and I met with Minister Hands to reiterate constituents’ understandably strong views about the project - see here.
