The arguments about whether to put up pylons to carry electricity across the region or bury cables underground has taken a new twist with MPs taking sides in two opposing letters.
The first letter was written by South Suffolk Conservative MP and shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge asking for a fresh look at putting cables underground.
Mr Cartlidge's letter was signed by 14 fellow Conservatives and Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay who represents the Waveney Valley seat.
It was written to the Chief Executive of the National Energy System Operator(NESO) Fintan Slye and asked for there to be a presumption in favour of putting cables underground because that could be a more economic option by 2034.
It says: "we would like to request that NESO includes, in its forthcoming work over the next 12 months, a national strategic option for the onshore grid based as far as possible on (underground cables)."
Mr Cartlidge said: "I was pleased to join my fellow MPs in calling once again for transparency on new grid infrastructure.
"When the Government commissions NESO to set out a national strategic plan for the grid, this should set out fully costed options for all technologies – not just pylons.
"My priority has always been to represent the views of my constituents, find a sustainable way to both reinforce the grid at the scale we need, whilst protecting consumers and the countryside."
However this letter has prompted a response from 61 Labour MPs anxious to see work go ahead on the "Great Grid Upgrade" as soon as possible.
The signatories to their letter, also to NESO boss Mr Slye include Ipswich's Jack Abbott and Lowestoft's Jessica Asato.
It says: "The cheapest and most pragmatic way to meet our energy needs is to reject the Conservative and Green MPs' ideological and expensive presumption in favour of undergrounding of cables."
It claims that Mr Cartlidge's letter "cherrypicks" details and that the underground option would cost households £1bn. It also says that a grid of pylons would cost £900m whereas putting cables underground would cost £4.2bn.
Mr Abbott said: “Under the previous government, we suffered from years of dither and delay which put our country's energy security at risk, while driving up bills for households and businesses. We all paid the price for their negligence.
“It is time to get on with the job, help protect people from volatile energy prices, and invest responsibly in our country’s future.”
Hearing about the letter from Labour MPs Mr Cartlidge added: "I’m delighted to see that the proponents of pylon fundamentalism are clearly rattled.
"To be clear, my constituents will be funding over £10bn of spending to put offshore transmission offshore from Scotland to the north of England – the idea it’s ‘just pylons’ is nonsense.
"The letter being criticised calls for transparency on all the options, not that we should stop building pylons; we just want fair treatment."
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.
