Alicia Kearns MP has called on the Government to introduce mandatory compensation for rural communities hosting nationally significant energy infrastructure.
During the Parliamentary Debate on ‘Backing Business to Create Economic Growth’, Alicia highlighted the case of Mallard Pass Solar Plant, located in Rutland and Lincolnshire. The developer, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, has refused to honour the promises made during the application process to pay compensation per megawatt generated. Instead, it has reinterpreted this to mean only energy exported, which will cost the affected communities £44,000 a year.
Quinbrook’s compensation offer of £96,000 a year is less than 40% of the rate being offered on comparable developments in the East Midlands. Alicia highlighted how the only national programme offering less compensation that Mallard Pass Solar Plant is Cleve Hil Solar Park in Kent, a solar project which is also owned by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.
Alicia concluded by asking the House:
“My question is: when will the Government stand up for us? I intend to amend the Government’s energy independence Bill to make community compensation mandatory for solar developments and to backdate it, but the Government could act first.”
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, said:
“It is unacceptable that developers are able to make millions in profit while having no legal obligation to offer any compensation.
“How can a company with a global transaction value of $30bn not afford to give my communities the compensation they deserve for the imposition of a multi-thousand acre development?
“With so many solar plants in both the local and national planning pipelines, the Government needs to urgently introduce standardised monetary amounts of compensation per megawatt paid out on an annual basis, as is already the case for onshore wind farms.”
