Cumbrian business and politicians have joined forces to ask the National Grid ESO to look again at their plans for the future electricity system in the UK.
A 121-page blueprint launched by the electricity systems operator overlooks vital capacity needs in West Cumbria, the group said.
Beyond 2030 outlines a £58 billion plan to upgrade the UK’s electricity infrastructure, creating new connections for new nuclear, offshore wind and other major energy projects.
However, West Cumbria is missing from the plan.
Josh MacAlister, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, co-ordinated the letter, which has been signed by Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer, Jo Lappin, chief executive of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, Dianne Richardson, chief executive of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster and Lord Roger Liddle.
Josh said: “We have ambitious plans to put West Cumbria at the forefront of the clean energy revolution, with new nuclear, offshore wind, expansion of the Port of Workington and more major industry coming here.
“However, the blueprint launched by National Grid ESO overlooks our area entirely, focusing solely on new connections for existing approved projects elsewhere.
“It risks creating a vicious circle – we can’t move forward, for example, on new offshore wind in part because we don’t have the grid connections, but we can’t get the grid connections because there aren’t any approved projects.
“We want National Grid ESO to come here and hear about our plans and then amend their blueprint to make sure Cumbria has the grid connections we need.”
Project Collette, a plan for a new 1.2GW community-run offshore wind farm west of Whitehaven, is an example of potential energy generation, but the project would require grid upgrades to be viable, the group said.
