Net Zero? Or Net Burden? A Call for Common-Sense Energy Policy

On Thursday nights West Norfolk Council Meeting our Reform Leader Julian Kirk questioned what he called the "Net Zero Nonsense". Cllr Michael de Whalley, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity very quickly lost his cool, labelling Julian Kirk's full comments as "thoroughly irresponsible and ignorant".

The climate debate in Britain has become an echo chamber. We constantly hear that we must all “accept Net Zero,” that it’s inevitable or moral, or that dissent is irresponsible. But what if the greatest injustice lies not in rejecting the goal, but in how it’s being forced upon us without logic, timing, or compassion?

A Timescale That Wasn’t Thought Through

The rush to impose heavy energy transitions everywhere at once betrays a lack of planning:

• Wind turbines are being paid to shut off because our electricity grid cannot carry their output. That’s money paid for nothing, energy wasted, and costs passed to the public.

• As of this year, curtailment payments (i.e. switching off turbines to relieve grid strain) have climbed past £1 billion.

• The government’s net-zero policies contain gaps. Critics warn they do “little to boost energy security, lower bills or meet climate goals”.

• Judges have twice ruled that the UK’s climate strategy is “not fit for purpose,” ordering the government to produce new and improved plans.

A top-down push for radical change without aligning the infrastructure or conducting realistic cost projections has set us up for failure.

When Clean Energy Costs More Than It Saves

• Consumers are being squeezed outside major headlines, many are forced to make impossible choices between heating or eating.

• Electricity prices in the UK are among the highest in the developed world, largely because gas prices (on which we still heavily depend) dominate what we pay.

• Adding to that, levies and subsidies tied to green transition are woven into our bills, often without clear accountability or visibility.

The Poor Bear the Heaviest Burden

Those in more deprived areas shoulder the biggest hit:

• Homes that are least energy-efficient suffer the most from price spikes.

• Many low-income households lack insulation, newer heating systems, or efficient appliances, the kind of upgrades that richer families can absorb more easily.

• Forcing aggressive timelines before the system is ready risks deepening fuel poverty and widening inequality.

What Needs to Change: A Sensible, Balanced Transition

Rejecting the way we’ve done Net Zero doesn’t mean rejecting environmental responsibility. It means demanding pragmatism, fairness, and local impact. Here’s a better framework:

1. Infrastructure First, Mandates Later

Build the grid, storage, and transmission capacity before enforcing extreme renewables. Don’t punish people with pointless waste and blackouts.

2. Transparent Costs & Accountability

Make levies, subsidy schemes, and curtailment costs visible. If energy bills exceed reasonable caps, the government must intervene, not just shrug.

3. Transitional Support Over Punishment

Use lower-carbon fossil fuels or gas as a bridge under tight regulation to avoid leaving people in the cold. Provide exemptions or protection for vulnerable households.

4. Local Autonomy & Flexibility

Not every region is identical. Local economies, climate, housing types vary. One-size-fits-all mandates hurt towns and rural areas most.

5. Regular Review & Course Correction

Policies should adapt to results, not be locked in. If something’s failing, it must be changed. Rigid dogma kills innovation, not climate action.

Reform North West Norfolk's Position: A Better Path Forward

We don’t owe fealty to prevailing dogmas. We stand for policies that work for people, not for rhetoric that punishes them. We recognise the need for cleaner energy, but we will not accept a timeline that bankrupts families or widens inequality.

West Norfolk deserves a debate, not a diktat.

We demand honest energy policy, transparent costs, and a transition that works for real people in real communities.

Austen Moore

Borough Councillor for North Lynn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk