Grant Shapes has backtracked on a reported proposal to increase the number of onshore windfarms as the government prepares to unveil its energy security strategy next week.
The transport secretary said this on the ridge program of Sky News on Sunday Coastal wind farm They do “eye stains” and damage the environment, adding that he personally does not support a “huge increase” in their numbers.
That is what was reported Business Secretary Quasi Quarteng It wanted to double coastal wind power by 2030 and triple it by 2035.
On Sunday, Downing Street said any decision in coastal winds would “always be subject to the consent of local authorities”.
Coastal wind farms ‘an eye sore’
Looking ahead to the release of the government’s energy strategy next week, Mr Shaps told Sky News the government would “look for a larger mix for our production.” Power“, Adds:” You can expect to see more Atomic The reactor, nuclear power. “
Asked if planning legislation should be relaxed to allow more coastal wind farms, the transport secretary said: “I am not in favor of a huge increase in coastal wind farms, for obvious reasons – they can sit there in the mountains and build something. The real problem of sound as well as eye pain for the community.
“So I think because of the environmental protection, the way to go with it is basically, not completely, but basically out of the sea.”
Read more: Rising gas prices make it a case for more coastal winds
This means that the idea of a large increase in the number of coastal wind farms is effectively off the table, he added: “I urge you to wait for the weekend for energy strategy.
“But I think what you want to do is develop in another way – nuclear, we’ll have offshore air. I don’t think you want a huge expansion of coastal winds.
“It simply came to our notice then. And yet, it is already providing us with a lot of power. “
Fuel infrastructure projects will come too late to help with rising bills
The government’s long-awaited energy strategy has the potential to kill two birds with one stone.
Pushing towards renewables is not only important for reducing carbon emissions, it is also an essential part of moving away from countries like Russia, away from dependence on foreign energy.
This does not mean that it is not a matter of political complexity, as it proves the delay in the document.
First, there’s the money – the excitement over the cost of building a nuclear reactor and the concern about the tax black hole that will go into electric vehicles.
Then there are concerns about the local impact of making things like turbines.
Amid cabinet disagreements and concerns about the potential electoral impact of installing turbines in the green and picturesque lands of Tory-occupied seats, a deliberate move toward more coastal winds seems to be off track.
But the biggest risk is how fast all these big infrastructure projects will be implemented.
For all of Boris Johnson’s ‘Boostarish’ Overtures, it must be too late to help with the current spiraling energy bills.
The political danger that the government is facing is that it will go to the next election with an expensive plan for cheap green energy for the future, but very little to help families cope with the rising costs at the moment.
‘More nuclear energy’ is expected in energy planning
This was reported in The Sunday Telegraph Boris Johnson The government is preparing to announce plans to expand its commitment to move forward with new nuclear power plants this decade.
A spokesman for No. 10 said: “Next week we will develop an ambitious plan to supercharge the use of a wide range of renewable energy, including offshore wind, solar and hydrogen – driven by nuclear and continued support for our North Sea oil and gas sector. “
Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News’ Rise on Sunday program that the Labor Party supports more investment in nuclear energy to help. Simplify the rising cost of household bills.
He said: “We support the development of renewables as well as more nuclear support in the system.
“The danger, I think, is that individual commissioning decisions on nuclear reactors obviously depend on the value you can get – they can be very costly if you don’t get the right deals and the right private sector partners.” That. “
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Labor ‘more nuclear support’
Meanwhile, after Mr Shaps’s earlier remarks, Conservative MP Alicia Cairns described herself as “probably one of the only people in the country who thinks the coastal winds can be quite beautiful in her own way.”
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Kearns emphasized the need to “clean up” the UK’s power supply chains, adding: “I will not have blood-stained panels that would essentially pollute our environment.”
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Quarteng acknowledged that he would be comfortable sitting next to a set of wind turbines, not ignoring any local differences.
“It doesn’t depend on me, it doesn’t matter what I think,” he said.
“If there is a plan in a particular community, they think it is important. It’s not my aesthetic choice that’s going to determine that. “
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He called for taking steps to reduce the rising energy bill
Earlier this week, lawmakers called on the government to take steps to reduce power bills for pensioners and other vulnerable groups.
Read more: Energy boss says UK families are ‘stuck’ with high bills
Theresa Villiers, a former Tory cabinet minister, and several other MPs on Tuesday presented ideas for further action on business, energy and industrial strategy questions.
Ms Villiers told the House of Commons: “Price limits, lower fuel tariffs and warmer housing concessions are providing significant support for bills, but will the government be committed to taking further steps, domestically and internationally, to try to reduce energy prices to help pensioners?” Group? “
Business Secretary Mr Quarteng replied: “[She] That’s the decent thing to do, and it should end there. “
