@transparent

I was talking with a Labour MP earlier today.
On a particular point (s)he said "Well we need to get the grid sorted out first!"

There was no attempt to explain what (s)he thought might be wrong with the grid,
or from what source that opinion had been obtained.

But if that thinking is representative of Government thinking (and it might be), then it's likely to result in some very skewed policy decisions.

 

Which Labour MP? This is devoid of context. 

As for MPs and "policy decisions" as I've said in this forum before that's not how things are done. This is all fantasy politics far removed from reality.  I'm not sure what the object of these posts are...

@transparent 

If MPs and Councillors don't get to hear any alternative views (from us), then it's unlikely that their own understanding of science is adequate to appreciate that the solar generation sector might be biased.

 

"Alternative views" ....

This is so far removed from the realities of policy formation, expert opinions and science advisory councils that I'm questioning why it's here. It sounds like soft lobbying to me. 

Is this the "alternative views" that oppose every renewables planning application?  🤔

Yet doesn't understand the how the roll out of renewables actually functions? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Who is this "Us" ? Reform UK?

Funded by oil and gas lobbies and with dark connections to the drill-baby-drill far-right in the US?  The millionaires who brought us Brexit while making sure they all had European passports and who made millions shorting the pound on voting day? The 'Stop Stupid Net Zero' millionaires with solar panels on their roofs and links to fascists? 

Because there's a superb range of expert opinion in the S. West, for example. The University of Exeter has a world-renown climate and energy policy department.  Never mind Plymouth and elsewhere. Perhaps it would be better to point your councillors and MPs at experts. 

Renewables are providing major employment opportunities and boosting the local economy in the S.West. This has been a long term plan not linked to partisan politics.  Give thanks because for too long the deep south west was ignored by London. 

@transparent I wonder how many Government MPs are even aware of NESO's announcement that the number of applications for yet more (generation) connections to the grid
is four-times greater than is required to meet the 2030 target for de-carbonisation of our electricity supply. (Watch the embedded video clip)

I'm not sure if this is evidence of not understanding how contemporary grids actually work or just plain misinformation? 

These are called 'Zombie applications' - it's like putting a place-holder in a queue 'just in case' your business might need it in a few years time. There were literally thousands of them because in the early days there were no regulations or cost on who could apply to be in the grid connection queue. Many of them aren't even traceable to functioning companies any more and THAT is what NESO is talking about.

They are cleaning up the queue - nothing more. Because NESO wants to see major 'ready-to-go' renewable energy generation installations located nation-wide. 

This is such basic grid knowledge... It certainly is NOT justification for opposing planning applications for renewables. 

Maybe you should be sharing scientific evidence with your Reform MPs and councillors    

"A host of eminent scientists have warned politicians, business and community leaders that the UK risks severe climate-related risks to its economy, public health, food systems and national security."

@transparent

Community Energy doesn't necessarily require the installation of any new generation assets.
It's about buying energy which is available locally, and selling it to Members (usually within a zone defined by the area supplied by a Primary sub-station).

Have a look at Energy Local Totnes.
They came across an existing hydro-turbine with (a lot of) unused capacity.

"They came across"  As you do... Amazing what you find lying around on a country walk.  [🙈] 

Totnes is a Transition Town 

Energy is only available "locally" if a bunch of Reform voting pensioners and flag flying bullies haven't launched a campaign to oppose the planning applications for generation and storage.  Usually backed up by a lot of misinformation and half-truths. 

Community energy is about a lot more than the description in the posts above. 

BTW Totty is aiming for new wind and solar generation eventually but they're likely to get ferocious if you oppose it.  These guys have 100 years of practice under their belt and George Monbiot living locally. I wouldn't mess with them.  😁😂

I've said it before - I'm not partisan about politics - I also accept that people 'may' vote Reform for diverse reasons and may not all be in agreement with the glossed over currents of racism and dark nationalist manipulations lurking underneath. 

But I've also said before that the science of climate change is not negotiable or something we can 'manage' a bit - we owe it to the future of 'our' planet to focus on it .