Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to encourage communities to support renewable energy network connection infrastructure in their localities.

Community support is critical to increasing the scale and pace of development of the electricity transmission network as we transition to net zero.

That is why, in November 2023, the government published its community benefit proposals for communities living near new transmission network infrastructure.

This includes publishing guidance this year covering benefits of £200,000/km for overhead lines, £40,000/km for underground cables, and £200,000 per substation. In addition, properties closest to new transmission network infrastructure will receive electricity bill discounts of up to £1,000 per year for 10 years.