Pylons (left) and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (right) (Image: Getty)
Labour’s plans to override communities’ concerns about new green projects will only foster resentment towards renewable energy, Tory MPs have warned.
Ministers must offer local communities compensation if ministers press ahead with Labour’s “needless” 2030 clean power target, they said.
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Patrick Spencer MP said: “Building more clean energy is important for energy security and for the environment. But clean power by 2030 is a near impossible, arbitrary target imposed by this government. To achieve it, they will have to go over the heads of local communities, ignoring any potential concerns.
“Overriding communities’ concerns about new projects will only foster resentment towards renewable energy. This will undermine Britain’s energy independence and our net zero target, and risk sticking us with higher energy bills as future infrastructure is heavily opposed.
“If the government is set on this needless 2030 target, then they must offer compensation for local communities. Making community benefit schemes mandatory for developers to offer will give local communities some peace of mind. Whether it is money off energy bills or investment in the local community itself, it will at least show that this government cares for local communities.”
Community benefits packages are financial payments made by developers of energy infrastructure, such as wind farms or electricity lines, made to local communities that will be impacted by the development.
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The prime minister has defended his plans to build pylons, electricity substations and solar farms across parts of England.
He described them as a necessary trade-off for reducing energy bills.
But there have been dozens of protests against plans for new energy infrastructure in East Anglia, with communities worried about the visual impact, possible effect on tourism and loss of high-grade farm land.
Sarah Bool MP said: “Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated starkly our need to provide for our own energy security. However, the Government’s approach to energy projects risks leaving local communities voiceless.
“As a minimum, they must have the opportunity to raise their concerns and have a meaningful say over what is built in their areas. Instead the Government is determined to go over their heads through a centralised approach.
“If the government wishes to honour its claim to care about devolution, it has to do more to address the concerns of local communities.
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“A step in the right direction would be mandatory community benefits. The least the Government can do is to require developers to give communities money off their bills in return for hosting this infrastructure.”
Sir Keir has set a goal of clean power by 2030 - five years before the Tories’ pledge of 2035.
Sam Payne, of the Conservative Environment Network, said: “The government has set an - perhaps overly - ambitious target for 95% a decarbonised power grid by 2030.
“But, this will require significant new generation and transmission infrastructure, which - if not consulted on properly - risk alienating local communities. If communities are not fairly compensated and consulted, there is a risk of increased long-term opposition, which will only delay the energy transition and risk us reliant on imported energy for longer.
“It is vital that community benefits, including financial incentives like bill reductions, are required for all renewable energy projects, to foster local support and avoid backlash."
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: “As shown by independent analysis from the National Energy Systems Operator, clean power is achievable, and can create a cheaper, more secure energy system.
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“Securing Britain's clean energy future will require improving infrastructure to get renewable electricity on the grid. Without this infrastructure, we will never deliver clean power for the British people.
“It is important we take people with us and are considering ways to ensure communities who live near new clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits of this, and we will provide an update in due course.”