COTTON, England — Charlotte Banks lives in Hempnalls Hall, a pink structure that dates back to the 16th century. It rises above an even older moat, dug to keep out bandits in ancient times.
Now a different threat looms. National Grid, the operator of Britain’s electricity system, is proposing to build a 180 kilometer transmission line through the countryside of eastern England, where Banks lives.
Overhead cables would carry clean electricity generated by nearby offshore wind farms and a new nuclear plant to London and other areas of the south-east of the country.
That means a 50-meter-high pylon would be located in an agricultural field about 200 meters from Banks’ home. He said he supported efforts to address climate change but questioned whether a row of steel towers in an area known for its rural beauty is the right solution.
“How much of the environment do you destroy to save the planet?” he asked.
In East Anglia, a region of pebble beaches, farms and ancient churches, some people are asking similar questions. They worry that the power lines, substations and other structures necessary for a future that demands more electricity will reduce real estate values, scare away tourists and, above all, disfigure the area.
“One of the most beautiful parts of England will be an industrial site,” said Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams, a 150-year-old company that operates a brewery, hotels and taverns in the seaside town of Southwold. Fears a decrease in tourism.
National Grid says that to cope with the increase in energy demand and reach new generation sources such as offshore wind farms, an upgrade costing tens of billions of pounds will be needed over the next decade.
East Anglia residents say they are not opposed to the project just because it is in their area, and they are not opposed to cleaner energy. But their concerns could hamper Britain’s efforts to meet its climate goals.
Offshore wind turbines will be installed in the North Sea, off the east coast of Britain. The electricity generated will have to be connected to power centers on land — work that often involves cutting trenches on private land for cables — before being sent south via towers.
The fact that these scars on its landscape benefit London consumers adds to the tension in East Anglia. Critics say less painful alternatives can be found and try to pressure the government and energy companies to make smarter decisions.
National Grid has held initial consultations with residents and further talks are planned for next year. Final government approval could occur in 2025, and construction would begin in 2027.
Residents said the meetings were unsatisfactory because the company presented the towers as a fait accompli. “There were no options given, so what was there to ask about?” asked Ann Stevens, who lives in the small town of Forncett Saint Mary.
Rosie Pearson, founder of Pylons East Anglia, an organization that advocates for the area, said National Grid did not consider alternatives, such as laying the cables offshore.
That idea, backed by other critics, calls for laying the cables at the bottom of the North Sea, through a chain of energy centers on artificial islands that would end around the mouth of the Thames River near London. National Grid is reviewing greater coordination of offshore links, but says moving much of the network offshore would increase costs that would then be passed on to consumers.
If one version of the towers proposal moves forward, Pearson plans to push for payments to people to be much higher than those currently available. Today National Grid pays farmers up to £8,000, or $9,700, for each tower, along with possible additional payments.
Not everyone is discouraged. Michael Savory, owner of a military museum on the Norfolk coast, said he didn’t mind the heavy construction work on his land to prepare the way for cables for an offshore wind farm; wires from two others cross his property.
“When the terrain is back to normal, you won’t even know they’re there,” he said.
“How much of the environment do you destroy to save the planet?”
CHARLOTTE BANKS,
whose house dates back to the 16th century
By: Stanley Reed
BBC-NEWS-SRC: http://www.nytsyn.com/subscribed/stories/6950675, IMPORTING DATE: 2023-10-23 20:10:06
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