The renewable energy sector has expressed support for a new plan under the UK Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aims to reduce electricity bills for residents living near new pylons. The bill, set to be published later this week, includes provisions to ensure that local communities benefit from hosting new and upgraded transmission infrastructure.
James Robottom, Head of Policy at RenewableUK, welcomed the initiative, stating: “We welcome the Government’s latest steps to help get Britain building the infrastructure it so desperately needs. It’s right that local communities should benefit from hosting new and upgraded pylons, so this guarantee that they will have significantly lower electricity bills is a positive step forward.”
Robottom further emphasized the importance of community involvement in the transition to renewable energy, saying: “We recognise the need to bring communities with us as we build the clean energy system of the future by ensuring that they have a tangible stake in it.”
The proposed measure is seen as a way to accelerate the rollout of much-needed grid infrastructure, helping to transport clean energy more efficiently across the country. Robottom concluded, “This will help to enable the roll-out of much-needed new grid infrastructure at a faster pace, so that we can make the most of the vast amounts of clean power we’re producing, by transporting it more efficiently from where it’s generated to where it’s needed in homes and businesses all over the country.
The announcement marks a step forward in the UK’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity and modernize the electricity grid to meet growing demand for clean power.
