I recently welcomed the changes that the Government has made
to the subsidies to wind and solar farms.
In my view Cornwall already has too many that blight parts of our
countryside. However, we still need to
develop new and innovative energy solutions and it is for this reason that I am
a strong supporter of the development of a geothermal industry in
Cornwall.
For me, geothermal power represents one of the next
generation of renewable, sustainable, energy sources that we are well placed to
pioneer in Cornwall.
Geothermal energy is often referred to as “hot rocks” and the
idea is to harness the power of the heat that lies within the rocks far below
the surface of the earth. Cornwall’s
ancient granite makes our geology suitable for this technology and it is not
dependant on either the wind blowing or the sun shining.
The industry is in its infancy and the exploratory part of
its development makes it very risky for investors. For that reason the government and other
agencies such as the EU must step up to help bring this technology to fruition. The issue has thankfully been recognised in
the Deal for Cornwall unveiled by the Prime Minister in July this year.
The industry could bring a number of benefits. Firstly, the energy created by these projects
would provide hot water or electricity to local business and communities at low
cost. This energy would have been
created locally, not far away in coal-fired power stations.
Next, as the industry grows, Cornwall could become a centre
of excellence nationally and even internationally. Apart from the jobs created by the geothermal
projects themselves, companies supplying the geothermal industry could base
themselves in Cornwall, further adding to our employment base. These would be the higher-paid jobs that we
so desperately need.
Finally, the spin offs for education would be the
opportunity to create industry-specific courses at our local colleges and to
support the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths or “STEM”
curriculum. The industry would allow our
young people to train in Cornwall and then pursue a career in an innovative and
growing industry.
It is my role to assist in turning these ideas into funding
and action. The first step I have taken is
that I have met with the leaders of two projects in the constituency to listen
to their concerns and challenges.
Secondly, is to request a meeting with the Secretary of
State for Energy and Climate Change to discuss how the Government will support
geothermal energy in Cornwall. I can then champion the potential of the local projects
with the Secretary of State and hopefully gain her support.
Geothermal energy represents an exciting opportunity for
Cornwall and I look forward to positive results in the coming months and years.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
seek to make a real difference to the lives of everyone who needs help and
support in any way.
If there is any issue that we can help you with then please
contact us on either 01726 829379
or on office@stevedouble.org.uk.
