MPs Raise Food Security Concerns Over Net Zero Infrastructure

Members of Parliament express concerns about food security in relation to Net Zero infrastructure initiatives

May 3, 2024 TruthUSA

Three Members of Parliament have expressed worries that installing pylons across farmland as part of National Grid upgrades for net zero goals could have an impact on food security.

MPs have voiced concerns about the erection of pylons across farmland as part of National Grid upgrades for net zero objectives potentially affecting food security.

Matt Warman raised these concerns during a session in Westminster Hall, highlighting the worries of his constituents regarding the plans to connect offshore renewable energy farms to a new electricity transmission line. He emphasized that “Lincolnshire is one of the most productive parts of our agricultural economy.”

The Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness noted that running the cables underground could potentially restore fully productive land, but acknowledged that this would be a lengthy project and the land would never be the same again. Mr. Warman criticized the current approach taken by the National Grid, set by the government, for not considering food security and economic impacts adequately in their plans.

He further stated that constituents are upset to see food security being overlooked and emphasized the importance of valuing taxpayer money, avoiding unnecessary blighting of landscapes, and prioritizing the economic and food security impacts in governmental decisions.

Other Conservative MPs, Virginia Crosbie representing Ynys Mon, and James Wild representing North West Norfolk, also shared similar concerns raised by their constituents about the potential impact pylons could have on food security when installed on farmland.

Related Stories

Government’s Climate Action Plan Is Unlawful, Rules High Court

“National Grid is proposing nearly 100 miles of new pylons. Many constituents have raised strong concerns and objections to the preferred route, including the damaging visual impact that the pylons would have on our beautiful landscapes. Much of the land on the proposed route is grade 1 arable land. When we are looking to improve food security, taking that out of use goes against the government’s intention,” Mr. Wild said.

Similar concerns were brought up during a debate in the House of Commons chamber in February, surrounding the use of agricultural land for pylons and solar panel farms.

In response, Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart stated that the country needs to upgrade its infrastructure to meet energy goals, while ensuring any new infrastructure minimizes negative impacts on food security.

The Climate Change Act 2008 targets net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, necessitating a significant increase in low carbon electricity generating infrastructure. The government aims to achieve this through the development of offshore solar and wind energy, nuclear power, and full decarbonization of the electricity grid by 2035.

National Grid’s review of grid requirements suggests a unified network connecting new offshore farms and transmission networks to facilitate the increase in green energy generation.

Calls for the use of underground cables have been growing, but a House of Lords Library paper released in February noted the government’s opposition due to the higher costs compared to overhead pylons.

‘We Need to Protect Our Prime Agricultural Land’

In January, Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones expressed concerns about the use of farmland for projects like solar panel farms rather than food production, emphasizing the need to preserve prime agricultural land.

Mr. Wyn Jones emphasized the importance of protecting agricultural land for food production and suggested utilizing solar panels on industrial and residential roofs to increase energy and food self-sufficiency.

Source link