Thank you for your message about natural gas fracking.
Given the international situation, energy security needs to be this Government’s most urgent priority alongside helping people through the cost-of-living crisis.
Clearly there is a need to improve domestic gas supplies in particular to solve the problem in the longer term, and I agree that the Government should overturn its moratorium on natural gas fracking. This could provide a reliable domestic source of natural gas at very low environmental risk. I understand that the Prime Minister intends to enable fracking to resume where it has local support, and I look forward to seeing concrete proposals on that in the near future.
I would also like to see significant investment in our nuclear capacity as a proven, effective low-carbon power source that does not face the same intermittency problems as renewables like wind. I fully expect to see this new Government press forward rapidly with new nuclear projects, including small modular reactors and Sizewell C which has just received £700m in new government funding pledges.
Of course renewables like wind and solar have a vital part to play as well, and I welcome plans to generate 50GW from offshore wind alone by 2030. I have also spoken in Parliament in favour of mandating solar panels on all new residential and industrial developments to help with energy self-sufficiency, and I will continue to make that case to the new government.
Thank you again for writing to me.
