Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: Rural Communities

Lord Nagaraju Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nagaraju (Lab) (Maiden Speech)]

My Lords, it is a great honour to rise and address this House, and I am grateful for the opportunity. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering, for raising this important Question. I express my sincere thanks for the warm welcome from all sides of the House. I am appreciative of Black Rod, the Clerk of the Parliaments, officials and staff. I am grateful to my noble friends Lady Berger, of Barnhill, and Lord Raval, of Hertsmere, for their support during my introduction. I also thank my noble friends Lady Smith of Basildon and Lord Kennedy of Southwark for their guidance and support.

I was born in India and came to the UK as a student. My journey was shaped by education. I pursued a master’s degree in computer science at Oxford Brookes University, leading me into a career in the technology sector. After more than two decades, I returned to study at University College London, undertaking a master’s in public administration, focusing on development, technology and innovation policy. That experience, together with my work on AI policy, reinforced my belief that technological progress must be guided by thoughtful governance and a commitment to the public good. It is for this reason that I have chosen the territorial designation of Bloomsbury, reflecting both my academic connection and its long traditional tradition of intellectual inquiry.

I declare my interests as a technology consultant, an AI policy adviser and a director of AI companies. My experience in the technology sector has given me a deep appreciation of both the opportunities and the complexities of innovation. I strongly believe that the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence must be understood widely and that its benefits should be shared across all parts of society.

I turn briefly to the subject of today’s debate. The transition to clean power is both necessary and welcome. As the Government advance their ambitions in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, it is vital that the impact on rural communities is carefully considered. Technology and innovation can play an important role. AI will increase electricity demand, but it can also help a clean power system to operate more effectively by improving renewable forecasting, balancing the grid and detecting faults faster. The opportunity is to ensure that rural communities are not merely asked to host this transition but are enabled to share in its benefits through community energy, local participation and greater local resilience.

We are living through a period of profound technological change. Artificial intelligence presents both significant opportunities and important challenges. We must harness its potential to drive growth and improve lives, while ensuring that its risks are addressed responsibly and with foresight, particularly in relation to safety, security, ethics and bias. In doing so, I am guided by values long associated with the Labour movement: fairness, inclusion and the belief that progress must benefit all. This is not a challenge for the UK alone. It calls for stronger international co-operation and meaningful partnerships, including those between the United Kingdom and India, the European Union and the United States.

I take my place in this House with humility, mindful of its traditions and the wisdom and experience of its Members. I hope to contribute constructively, particularly in the areas of technology policy, innovation and global co-operation. I thank your Lordships.