Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used a visit to Grimsby to meet with senior clean energy industry figures, with an urgent need for a return for onshore wind and further offshore strategy agreed upon.
Steps that could help cut bills as quick as possible were under the microscope as he made a rapid return to the town - the very eastern edge of the northern 鈥榬ed wall鈥 shattered in 2019.
He joined ousted Labour MP Melanie Onn - now deputy chief executive of Renewable 海角视频 - and CEO Dan McGrail, taking in both Bishopthorpe onshore wind farm at Tetney, a parish just outside the town, and Orsted鈥檚 world-leading offshore hub on the docks. It was the take-up of an invite extended over from his previous visit, curtailed by the Sue Gray report publication and the controversy at the end of Boris Johnson's time in the job he's keen to take on.
Read more: 海角视频's admission to Global Offshore Wind Alliance 'a vote of confidence' in world-leading industry
At the 拢14 million Royal Dock base, he met apprentices and took in a private round table meeting involving onshore specialist BayWa RE and Orsted's quayside neighbours Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and RWE.
They secured the backing of Sir Keir for a reform of the planning system in England to enable onshore wind farms to go ahead, alongside wider measures to boost renewables and cut bills. He heard how under the current system there is a 鈥渄e facto ban鈥 on new onshore wind, where planning rules have led to a 95 per cent drop in the amount of onshore wind capacity being built. It is one of the cheapest forms of new power and one of the quickest to build.
A desire for a new industrial strategy to enable the sector to scale up more rapidly was also expressed, with Sir Keir hearing how there is an urgent need to build new infrastructure at ports around the 海角视频, upgrade the electricity grid faster and reform the Contracts for Difference support scheme to maximise the amount of new capacity that can be secured annually to help build up the 海角视频鈥檚 supply chain.
Sir Keir said: 鈥淭he solution to the energy crisis is clear 鈥 we need to go all out for cheap, clean, home-grown power as fast as we can. From green hydrogen to offshore wind, gigafactories to new nuclear and tidal power, Labour will help these new industries to thrive. And we will reverse this Government鈥檚 policies that are blocking the growth of onshore wind and solar, which are vital sources of cheap power for bill payers.
鈥淗ere in Lincolnshire, I鈥檝e met some of the people who are making the energy transition a reality and investing in the technologies and the jobs of the future. Labour鈥檚 world-leading commitment for Britain to reach 100 per cent clean power by 2030 will deliver lower bills, greater security, good jobs and a stronger economy for the entire country鈥.
The CfD auction has already been made an annual fixture by the government, with significant funding for ports announced, including Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme.
Mr McGrail said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be able to show Sir Keir at first-hand what the 海角视频鈥檚 new green economy looks like in action. We鈥檙e increasing the 海角视频鈥檚 energy security, cutting bills and leading the world with innovative technologies like floating wind and green hydrogen.
鈥淲e can also unlock the benefits of onshore wind in England by reforming the planning system so that this technology is treated like any other. We need a level playing field so that each project is considered on its own merits in areas where it has local community support.
鈥淟abour鈥檚 commitment to ensuring these reforms go ahead is a key step forward - and it鈥檚 in line with widespread public support that exists for accelerating the roll-out of renewables鈥.
Ms Onn, who served Grimsby as Austin Mitchell鈥檚 successor from 2015 and hasn't ruled out fighting Lia Nici for the seat at the next election, sported a vivid red blazer and posed for pictures with her former colleague. She said: 鈥淚鈥檝e seen right here in my home town of Grimsby how renewables are creating new opportunities and quality jobs. More than 30,000 people already work in our world-class offshore wind industry and young people across the country are choosing to enter the sector because they鈥檙e passionate about taking practical action against climate change. As the sector grows, we鈥檒l need even more young people to deliver our net zero ambitions, and our apprentices, like those we met today, are great examples of how it鈥檚 possible to start a new career in an industry which is really making a difference鈥.
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