REA response to Nuclear plans
Today's hard-hitting REA announcement on the Government's energy plans.
The renewable energy industry derided the paucity of new measures in today’s badly timed Energy Bill. The governments own calculations show that these policies will deliver less than a third of the renewable energy (1) required under EU law.
Renewable Energy Association director Philip Wolfe said,
“The government knows that the Energy White Paper on which the Bill is based was out of date before it was published, because it neglected the European energy targets the UK had signed up to the previous month. Now it is going off half-cocked again, just two weeks before we are given our share of the EU renewables target. The government is missing a golden opportunity to use the Energy Bill for a much broader suite of policies.”
He added,
“Given the Prime Minister's public commitment to the 20% target, the industry felt entitled to expect more in the Energy Bill to bring it up to date with the targets and with promises to support sustainable heat. We are therefore asking John Hutton to consider key amendments to the bill to urgently accelerate renewable energy in the UK.”
“Amongst other things, our proposed amendments will address two of the fundamental flaws in UK renewables policy, and are widely supported by the policy community and by opposition parties;
Firstly, there is systematic neglect of the vast suite of renewable technologies that operate at a smaller scale and that are suitable for investment by individuals, businesses and public bodies well beyond the traditional energy industry. Renewables, including heat production, often work best at this scale but are not being taken seriously by government. We believe a Feed in Tariff would offer vital stimulus here.
Secondly the remit of the regulator has not kept up with energy policy. This means rules and regulations impede technologies that help tackle climate change and vital new infrastructure just doesn’t get built.”
The government is proposing further consultations running into 2009 on how to deliver the UK share of the EU target. This is despite the unequivocal commitment to renewables previously stated in the 2003 Energy White Paper, based on the largest public consultation on energy in 50 years.
“If we could consult our way out of climate change we'd be at the top of the EU renewables league table”, commented Philip Wolfe. “In practice we need tough and early measures. If we don't get them very soon we'll stay at the bottom.”
