Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will use speeded up planning system to accelerate new wave of green energy projects in the face of a likely wave of local opposition
Labour has vowed to drive through controversial energy projects in a £200billion bid to cut household bills.
Plans will put the government in direct conflict with communities bitterly opposed to the building of new electricity pylons, solar and wind farms, and power stations nearby. Ministers hope to pacify those specifically impacted with potentially money off their electricity bills, with details set to emerge in the new year.
What the government claims is the biggest reforms to the UK’s energy system in a generation forms part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “Plan for Change”, as he attempts to boost Labour’s political fortunes after a series of knocks.
At its heart is breaking the link between imported energy, which saw bills for households and businesses rocket in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In its place, the government has set out stretching targets to get to “clean energy” by 2030.
Doing so will mean securing £40billion a year between now and 2030 of mainly private investment in home-grown energy projects, from on and offshore wind to nuclear, although the governments admits ageing gas power stations will remain as back-up. Energy firms could be handed long contracts as an added incentive to commit the money.
But key to the government’s plans is a promise to massively speed up the planning process on 80 big projects. One way is to push go-slow “zombie” schemes – which have been wasting planners’ time – to the back of the queue.
The shake-up is expected to trigger a major backlash from campaigners who say it will lead to the countryside being blighted and wildlife – both on land and at sea – harmed. Sources say Labour is prepared for the fight – including attempts to combat judicial reviews – with the aim of lowering energy bills for millions of working households by the end of the decade.
They claimed there would be “meaningful benefits” and that bills will “stabilise” over the coming year, rather than be exposed to further shocks.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “A new era of clean electricity for our country offers a positive vision of Britain’s future with energy security, lower bills, good jobs and climate action.
“This can only happen with big, bold change and that is why the government is embarking on the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations.”
He added: “The clean power sprint is the national security, economic security, and social justice fight of our time – and this plan gives us the tools we need to win this fight for the British people.”
Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s policy director, said: “The winds of change are finally blowing in the right direction. But this roadmap must treble the amount of power generated by offshore wind and solar and double onshore wind, at least, if it’s to deliver the kind of ambition needed to turbocharge our way to a renewably powered future.”
Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “The UK has paid the price for over-reliance on expensive gas over the past few years and the crisis is not over yet.”
Greg Jackson, chief executive of energy giant Octopus, said: “We welcome the prospect of slashing red tape for grid connections, overturning the onshore wind ban in England and allowing more special offers to slash energy bills.
“Britain’s high energy prices stem from years of bad rules that don’t allow us to build renewable energy in the places it’s needed, or make use of cheap wind when it’s abundant, so these are positive steps.”
