Letter to Claire Coutinho MP

Letters should be sent to: Claire Coutinho MP, Secretary of State, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

Emails should be sent to: Claire Coutinho MP at Secretary.State@energysecurity.gov.uk and also CC’d/copied to other key figures as per the list below (copy this list straight into the cc: field) and BCC’d/blind-copied to info@suffolkenergyactionsolutions.co.uk

To:
Secretary.State@energysecurity.gov.uk

CC list:
Minister.Bowie@energysecurity.gov.uk
correspondence@energysecurity.gov.uk
Middleton-Harriford.jobshare@beis.gov.uk
beiscorrespondence@beis.gov.uk
Bernard.jenkin.mp@parliament.uk
therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk
james.cartlidge.mp@parliament.uk
john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk
richard.rout@suffolk.gov.uk
Tom.Daly@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
katie.graham@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
sarah.whitelock@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Andrew.Reid@suffolk.gov.uk

BCC:
info@suffolkenergyactionsolutions.co.uk

To: Claire Coutinho MP
Secretary of State
Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

Dear Secretary of State,

Re: Offshore Transmission Network Design

Cumulative Impact
As a resident of East Anglia, I am writing to protest in the strongest terms to current ill-conceived plans, to create an onshore Energy Superhub in the Suffolk Coastal area of Friston. Current plans (including Sizewell C) would involve 6 NSIP projects within five square miles, in an area with inadequate road infrastructure, and the cumulative impact of multiple projects would effectively industrialise the Heritage Coast (AONB, SSSIs, SPA and RAMSAR) and decimate the local nature-tourism reliant economy.

This power will not be used on the Suffolk Coast or in East Anglia, the infrastructure will plough through our countryside in order to power London and the South East. I am in favour of offshore wind power, but there is an appalling lack of joined-up thinking about offshore network design and onshore infrastructure, and I have felt compelled to add my voice to the rising opposition from across the political spectrum.

The Cost-Effective Solution – Follow Offshore Grid Principles
Following these principles is cheaper, saving billions for British consumers, giving energy security and it is better for the environment and communities.

• Pool energy offshore to give asset cost efficiencies saving billions
• Transport energy from where it’s generated closer to demand offshore, thereby reducing grid-related constraint costs and the need to use fossil fuel power generated closer to demand as backup
• Transporting energy offshore also leads to accelerated planning permissions, with associated cost savings on route permissions/compulsory purchases
• Use Brownfield onshore locations for significant additional benefits, it gives speedier planning permissions, the opportunity for local economic regeneration and avoids cumulative negative impacts for the environment and communities.

Pilot projects are needed now
Whilst a fully integrated offshore transmission network (offshore grid) will take a number of years to develop, there are immediate steps which will help achieve Britain’s future wind capacity goals.

We need pilot projects involving pooling energy at sea and transporting power by subsea cable closer to demand, in order to test and perfect this technology over the next few years. Pilot projects are vital now to gain the experience needed to deliver future plans cost-effectively.

Pilot 1: This approach is already being planned by wind farms Five Estuaries and North Falls combining with the Nautilus Interconnector and taking power to the Isle of Grain as part of the OCSS (evidencing the sound rationale for this solution)

Pilot 2: Scottish Power’s EA1N, EA2 and LionLink can combine energy offshore and take power to the brownfield site of Bradwell-on-Sea closer to London, which has an existing substation and pylons that can be upgraded, offering huge overall savings. I understand the local MP and landowner are in favour of this onshore solution.

These two pilots could prove the pivotal projects for achieving Britain’s future goals faster and at lower cost and I urge you to do everything in your power to achieve this.

Yours sincerely,

Sender’s name

Sender’s address

Letters should be sent via your MP asking them to pass it on, and/or mailed direct to:

The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP,
Prime Minister,
10 Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA

To: The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP

Dear Prime Minister,

I am a resident of East Anglia,

Cumulative Impact
As a resident of East Anglia, I am writing to protest in the strongest terms at the lack of strategic thinking regarding the offshore wind power network and onshore infrastructure, ill-conceived plans to create an onshore Energy Superhub in the Suffolk Coastal area of Friston. Current plans (including Sizewell C) would involve 6 NSIP projects within five square miles, in an area with inadequate road infrastructure, and the cumulative impact of multiple projects would effectively industrialise the Heritage Coast (AONB, SSSIs, SPA and RAMSAR) and decimate the local nature-tourism reliant economy.

This power will not be used on the Suffolk Coast or in East Anglia, the infrastructure will plough through our countryside in order to power London and the South East. I am in favour of offshore wind power, but there is an appalling lack of joined-up thinking about offshore network design and onshore infrastructure, and I have felt compelled to add my voice to the rising opposition from across the political spectrum.

The Cost-Effective Solution – Follow Offshore Grid Principles
Following these principles is cheaper, saving billions for British consumers, giving energy security and it is better for the environment and communities.

• Pool energy offshore to give asset cost efficiencies saving billions
• Transport energy from where it’s generated closer to demand offshore, thereby reducing grid-related constraint costs and the need to use fossil fuel power generated closer to demand as backup
• Transporting energy offshore also leads to accelerated planning permissions, with associated cost savings on route permissions/compulsory purchases
• Use Brownfield onshore locations for significant additional benefits, it gives speedier planning permissions, the opportunity for local economic regeneration and avoids cumulative negative impacts for the environment and communities.

Pilot projects are needed now
Whilst a fully integrated offshore transmission network (offshore grid) will take a number of years to develop, there are immediate steps which will help achieve Britain’s future wind capacity goals.

We need pilot projects involving pooling energy at sea and transporting power by subsea cable closer to demand, in order to test and perfect this technology over the next few years. Pilot projects are vital now to gain the experience needed to deliver future plans cost-effectively.

Pilot 1: This approach is already being planned by wind farms Five Estuaries and North Falls combining with the Nautilus Interconnector and taking power to the Isle of Grain as part of the OCSS (evidencing the sound rationale for this solution)

Pilot 2: Scottish Power’s EA1N, EA2 and LionLink can combine energy offshore and take power to the brownfield site of Bradwell-on-Sea closer to London, which has an existing substation and pylons that can be upgraded, offering huge overall savings. I understand the local MP and landowner are in favour of this onshore solution.

These two pilots could prove the pivotal projects for achieving Britain’s future goals faster and at lower cost and I urge you to do everything in your power to achieve this.

Yours sincerely

Sender’s name

Sender’s address

If Therese Coffey is your MP

Letters should be sent to: The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Emails should be sent to: The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP at therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk and also CC’d/copied to local councillors as per the list below (copy this list straight into the cc: field) and BCC’d/blind-copied to info@suffolkenergyactionsolutions.co.uk

To: therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk

CC list:
richard.rout@suffolk.gov.uk
Tom.Daly@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
katie.graham@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
sarah.whitelock@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Andrew.Reid@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
katherinemackiealde@gmail.com
aldeblackburn@aol.com
mariannefellowes@hotmail.co.uk
david.wybar@aldeburghgolfclub.co.uk

BCC: info@suffolkenergyactionsolutions.co.uk

TO: The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP,

Dear Dr Coffey,

Cumulative Impact
At a recent public meeting, you said that resigning from DEFRA had ‘unleashed’ you from Ministerial constricts and are now able to devote more time to the onslaught of proposed energy projects industrialising our Heritage Coast.

As a resident of East Anglia, I am writing regarding these proposed energy projects and to protest in the strongest terms at the lack of strategic thinking regarding the offshore wind power network and onshore infrastructure, ill-conceived plans to create an onshore Energy Superhub in the Suffolk Coastal area of Friston. Current plans (including Sizewell C) would involve 6 NSIP projects within five square miles, in an area with inadequate road infrastructure, and the cumulative impact of multiple projects would effectively industrialise the Heritage Coast (AONB, SSSIs, SPA and RAMSAR), severing wildlife corridors, displacing threatened species, inflicting permanent damage to the shoreline and decimating the local nature-tourism reliant economy.

This power will not be used on the Suffolk Coast or in East Anglia, the infrastructure will plough through our countryside in order to power London and the South East, or be sold by National Grid Ventures, an international for-profit conglomerate. I am in favour of offshore wind power, but there is an appalling lack of joined-up thinking about offshore network design and onshore infrastructure, and I have felt compelled to add my voice to the rising opposition from across the political spectrum.

The Cost-Effective Solution – Follow Offshore Grid Principles
Following these principles is cheaper, saving billions for British consumers, giving energy security and it is better for the environment and communities.

• Pool energy offshore to give asset cost efficiencies saving billions
• Transport energy from where it’s generated closer to demand offshore, thereby reducing grid-related constraint costs and the need to use fossil fuel power generated closer to demand as backup
• Transporting energy offshore also leads to accelerated planning permissions, with associated cost savings on route permissions/compulsory purchases
• Use Brownfield onshore locations for significant additional benefits, it gives speedier planning permissions, the opportunity for local economic regeneration and avoids cumulative negative impacts for the environment and communities.

Pilot projects are needed now
Whilst a fully integrated offshore transmission network (offshore grid) will take a number of years to develop, there are immediate steps which will help achieve Britain’s future wind capacity goals.

We need pilot projects involving pooling energy at sea and transporting power by subsea cable closer to demand, in order to test and perfect this technology over the next few years. Pilot projects are vital now to gain the experience needed to deliver future plans cost-effectively.

Pilot 1: This approach is already being planned by wind farms Five Estuaries and North Falls combining with the Nautilus Interconnector and taking power to the Isle of Grain as part of the OCSS (evidencing the sound rationale for this solution)

Pilot 2: Scottish Power’s EA1N, EA2 and LionLink can combine energy offshore and take power to the brownfield site of Bradwell-on-Sea closer to London, which has an existing substation and pylons that can be upgraded, offering huge overall savings. I understand the local MP and landowner are in favour of this onshore solution.

These two pilots could prove the pivotal projects for achieving Britain’s future goals faster and at lower cost and I urge you to do everything in your power to achieve this.

Yours sincerely

Sender’s name

Sender’s address

Best wishes to you all,

The SEAS Team