Ground-mounted Solar Panels: Alternatives
Debate between Graham Stringer and Andrew Bowie(5 days, 12 hours ago)
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Andrew Bowie
As ever, I could not agree more with my hon. Friend, who makes a very important point.
Britain is an island nation with more than 40,000 lakes, lochs and reservoirs. We have led the world in offshore energy for decades, be that oil and gas or offshore wind. Floating solar, as my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Spelthorne suggests, should be explored to see how it might contribute to a future system without displacing food production or industrialising the great British countryside.
Despite the potential of such exciting technologies, the Government are going hell for leather towards onshore wind at the expense of all else, and greenfield solar is being waved through planning systems with alarming speed against the wishes of local communities across the country. The Conservative party continues to support solar on people’s rooftops and on top of warehouses, car parks, brownfield sites and other common-sense locations that do not harm our countryside, food production or rural livelihoods. What we oppose is the Government’s apparent willingness to sacrifice productive farmland.
Graham Stringer (in the Chair)
Order. Before the Minister starts his speech, I remind him to leave a couple of minutes at the end for the Member in charge to wind up.