Pylons – Suffolk must ‘face the storm’

As one of the organisations that our government calls “a blocker” and an “obstructionist” we are firmly aware of the challenges that climate change poses for our natural and historic built environment in Suffolk.

Sir Keir Starmer said that people must “face the storm” as he warned of further tough decisions. In a speech at the Labour Party conference this week, he said people would need to accept the trade-offs that reforming the country and renewing infrastructure would require. He said  “If we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons overground otherwise the burden on taxpayers is too much.”

Meanwhile, the government has now officially acquired the Electricity System Operator from National Grid, which has passed into public ownership. The new National Energy System Operator (NESO) will be the independent, public corporation responsible for planning Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system. It will have more strategic oversight of the energy system and it will be required to balance three objectives: achieving net zero, ensuring security of supply and ensuring efficiency and economy.

How can community based groups like us be heard against the din of calls for more speed, more pylons, more onshore renewables and even more disregard for those who will be most impacted by these changes?

We recognise the hard work of all those who are currently seeking to make the case for a more joined up, more sustainable and less environmentally damaging outcome. We are proud to work alongside those that are seeking to mitigate the worst excesses of these damaging proposals.

There is a better way:

Link to Greening the Great Grid Upgrade