Labour has set out its plan to make Britain a “clean energy superpower” if it wins the next election.
It says that building a clean energy grid is essential if the UK wants to cut energy bills, deliver energy independence, and grow the economy, so Labour will remove the barriers to facilitate the largest upgrade to national transmission infrastructure in a generation.
The plan will contribute to Labour’s aim to cut £93bn from UK energy bills by 2030.
GB Energy, Labour’s planned publicly-owned energy company, will work in coordinating the transmission operators to launch a super-tender which will procure the grid supply chain that Britain needs.
On top of that, to deliver the investment, capacity, skills, and urgency to build the grid we need, Labour will open up new grid construction to competitive tendering, with GB Energy looking to bid into that competition to build or co-build that new grid where necessary.
Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
Talk to any business and they will tell you that the queue for grid connections is growing out of control, with more than £200bn worth of privately-funded projects now stuck.
Labour will turbocharge our growth, get Britain building and unlock private sector investment by speeding up the grid.
This will help cut family energy bills, allow businesses to invest and strengthen our energy security from foreign dictators.
Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, said:
Labour’s energy policy will take back control of our energy system to deliver clean power and energy independence for Britain.
With GB Energy, our publicly owned energy company, we will deliver the grid we need to slash bills for every family and business.
The Conservatives are the party of stagnation and delay. Only Labour has a plan to make working people better off – and to give Britain its future back.
