The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee
will next week hold the first evidence session of its new inquiry
into the Government’s draft Energy National Policy Statements
(NPS).
National Policy Statements
The NPS provides a legal and policy framework which the Secretary
of State for BEIS uses to determine applications for new,
nationally significant infrastructure projets, such as power
stations and wind farms.
In its review of the current energy NPS suite, the Government
aims to bring them in line with the policy changes set out in
its Energy White
Paper and its goal of achieving net zero emissions by
2050.
Purpose of the session
In this evidence session, the cross party group of MPs will
question three panels of witnesses with representatives from
across the UK energy sector, from the National Grid, and hear
from experts from the National Infrastructure Commission, the
Institute for Civil Engineers, University College London and the
Wildlife Trusts.
The witnesses are likely to be asked for their views on whether
the draft NPS align with the government's stated policies for
future energy generation, whether the new policies will allow
flexibility for innovation in the sector, and what protections
the NPS will offer for the environment and local communities.
Witnesses
Tuesday 7 December 2021
10.30am
- Aled Rowlands, Interim Head of Corporate Affairs -
Electricity Transmission, National Grid
- Danielle Lane, Chair, Offshore Wind Industry Council
- Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive Officer, Energy UK
- Paul McGimpsey, Director of Regulation, Energy Networks
Association
11.30am
- James Richardson, Chief Economist, National Infrastructure
Commission
- Chris Richards, Director of Policy, Institute for Civil
Engineers
12.15pm
- Dr Nick Hughes, Senior Research Fellow, Bartlett School,
University College London
- Tania Davey, Marine Planning Manager, The Wildlife Trusts
