By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 13:34, Monday, 04 February 2013

Controversial routes for new power lines across Cumbria are set to be put before the public in late spring.

The National Grid has outlined plans to connect new sources of electricity generation in Cumbria to the national power network by creating a North West Coast Power Ring.

The company has been asked to provide a connection into the electricity transmission system for the proposed new 3.2GW nuclear power station, Moorside, near Sellafield, and a number of windfarms in the Irish Sea.

This project is an important step towards meeting the National Grid’s challenge to modernise and extend the country’s existing energy infrastructure.

A National Grid spokesperson said that the public consultation is likely to start in late spring.

It is thought construction will come after the forthcoming local elections.

Last year, National Grid consulted with local authorities in Lancashire and Cumbria, key groups and individuals on six broad options identified as offering solutions for the power network.

From that consultation, two options were chosen – both of which would see the creation of a power ring that would connect coastal areas into the existing grid system and also create the opportunity for future energy generators to link in to the network.

National Grid is now assessing these two options to identify potential corridors where the new power lines could be routed.

Work is focusing on looking for onshore routes to the north of Moorside where there is the potential to follow the path of existing low voltage power lines which are operated by Electricity North West.

To the south of Moorside, National Grid will also consider routes where there is potential to follow the path of existing power lines in addition to studying possible routes offshore through the Irish Sea and across Morecambe Bay.

First published at 13:30, Monday, 04 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk