Controversial plans for a 110 mile-long line of pylons across parts of the Norfolk countryside are to be probed by county councillors.
Bosses from National Grid will be put on the spot at a Norfolk County Council hearing over the hugely divisive proposals for a new high-voltage power line network from Norwich to Tilbury.
National Grid wants its East Anglia Green scheme of 50m-high pylons to run from Dunston, just south of the city, down to the Thames Estuary.
But there has been strong opposition to the proposals.
Communities have criticised how landscapes will be ruined by the "intrusive" structures.
County Hall leader Andrew Proctor branded it "completely unacceptable" and a group of MPs have urged a rethink.
The county council's scrutiny committee will grill representatives from National Grid at a meeting next week.
Steve Morphew, chair of the scrutiny committee and leader of the Labour group at the council, said: "As well as the day-to-day services the council delivers, scrutiny members need to look at some wider issues that affect the future of our county.
"Power supply is crucial. Our county’s contribution to sustainable electricity generation is vital and something we should be proud of, but how it gets into the system and what benefits it brings locally are important and controversial questions."
National Grid says the project is necessary to conduct increasing amounts of wind power, generated off the Norfolk coast, down to London and the rest of the country - helping the UK hit its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
But a group of MPs, including Norfolk's Richard Bacon, James Wild, George Freeman, Jerome Mayhew and Duncan Baker, have urged the government to intervene over the plans.
They believe the line should instead be buried under the sea, and run around the region’s coastline to reach its destination, as part of an 'integrated offshore grid'.
But power chiefs say that is not "technically feasible or economic".
As it is regarded as a nationally significant infrastructure project, the government will make a final decision on whether the scheme gets the go-ahead.
The meeting, on Wednesday, December 14, will also consider a report on the issue of nutrient neutrality, or concerns that housing developments are contributing to pollution of the waterways.
That comes after a directive from Natural England, which has prevented councils in Norfolk from being allowed to grant planning permission for new homes.
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