SIR – The plans to cover an area “the size of Exmoor” with solar panels are just another example of woolly-headed government thinking on energy.

At least 10 years ago, the building industry had the ability to fit solar panels on to new-build homes, but it hasn’t happened. No government in the last 20 years has had the guts to commit itself to nuclear power, as the French have. Neither have our leaders prioritised energy security by continuing to invest in North Sea oil.

Fracking is a contentious issue – but instead of putting some investment behind it while the industry worked on solving potential problems, developing different methods and reassuring the general public that it can be done safely, governments have taken the easy option and walked away.

Now the “plan” is to carpet the countryside with on-shore turbines and solar panels. This will remove acres of valuable farmland that could be used for food production, meaning we will have to import even more at a time when transport fuel prices are going through the roof.

Paul Braithwaite
London SE6

SIR – Britain’s largest steel companies, Tata Steel and British Steel, are reported to have stopped importing Russian metallurgical coal.

That the Government has encouraged this while stalling a new, almost oven-ready coking coal mine at Whitehaven in Cumbria is ridiculous.

It’s time that over-sensitive environmental objectors stopped blocking the recovery of critical energy resources.

A T Patrick
Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

SIR – Since the 2008 Planning Act was introduced, the Planning Inspectorate has examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects.

The Act was designed to give communities a say in projects that had a direct impact on them. However, implementation of the Act has resulted in significant delays to the decision-making process as real and imaginary objections are considered by government inspectors.

This has become particularly burdensome with the urgent need to find additional energy sources following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now is the time for ministers to consider taking emergency powers to allow quicker decisions on solar, nuclear and fracking planning applications.

This doesn’t remove the need for inspections but does require a pragmatic approach to permissions that affect our long-term energy requirements at this critical time.

Group Captain Alan Ferguson (retd)
Ipswich, Suffolk

SIR – Terry Crocker (Letters, March 27) asks whether it is more economical to boil a kettle using electricity or gas.

He may be pleased to know that gas is far cheaper. Unlike the large quantity required for central heating and hot-water cylinders, the amount used when cooking on a hob is minuscule.

I discovered this a few summers ago, when I switched off the boiler from May to September (using solar panels for hot water). I cooked every day and boiled countless kettles on the hob, yet the gas meter digits hardly moved. My electric kettle has become redundant.

Penny Ann McKeon
Henfield, West Sussex

Keep up the sanctions

SIR – To end sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin withdraws from Ukraine, as suggested by Liz Truss, would be a clear sign of Western weakness.

The invasion of a sovereign country, resulting in the murder of thousands of civilians, must be punished. The West needs to enforce sanctions until Russia is no longer a threat.

J A Crooks
Newtownards, Co Down

SIR – The war in Ukraine can be expected to continue for some time. No Ukrainian I know is willing to consider conceding one inch of the Donbas now.

What President Biden said, although considered bad form, was right. Mr Putin must be removed from power – and before any sanctions are lifted.

As soon as this happens, we should lift sanctions immediately to avoid the circumstances that led to the Second World War. However, I worry that Europe will not be willing to maintain sanctions for long enough.

If Mr Putin does succeed in his war, he will eventually move on to other countries. That would herald much longer-term economic turmoil. He cannot be allowed to remain in charge.

David Clarke
Athens, Greece

SIR – In our small Welsh town, over 30 families have applied to the Home Office to sponsor a Ukrainian family.

Despite waiting for more than 14 days, no one has yet received notice that visas have been approved for any Ukrainians to find safety in our homes.

Surely we should adopt the approach of EU countries that don’t force Ukrainians to go through onerous checks, and simply ask for passports.

Is the Home Office deliberately trying to limit the number of people we welcome – or is it simply incompetent?

R A Collings
Presteigne, Radnorshire