NO POINT OF RENEWABLES IF POWERGRID INFRASTRUCTURE IS DELAYED.

Delays are slowing the switch to clean energy as developers of wind and solar farms are forced to wait to be connected to the grid. The report wants to cut the delays from 12-14 years to half that time. Residents who would be living near new overhead power lines could be paid from funds created for the wider community. There are calls for a fast-track planning system to speed up the overhaul of the national grid but promised a transparent, respectful and efficient approach when engaging with people and communities about the impact on the UK landscape. Scotland’s widespread development of wind power urgently needs “substantially better transmission infrastructure to be developed quickly and calls for better alignment of planning processes in Scotland, England and Wales to create a better network of power lines across the Scottish border. The countryside protection charity CPRE warned it was important that “no corners are cut” when building new electricity powerlines across the country to link wind and solar energy sites with towns and cities. The “highest standards, safeguards and planning become more important, not less,” it said. With an extensive network of roads and rail it seems logical to use them for power transmission without affecting peoples real concern house prices.