Ofgem: increased energy imports could raise bills
Energy regulator Ofgem warned yesterday that consumers will face higher bills because of the decline of gas produced in the UK – meaning more will have to be imported in the coming years. Chief executive Alistair Buchanan said plans to renovate old, polluting power stations will cause a fall...
Campaigners criticise ‘short-sighted’ government energy policy after oil boost
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been criticised by environmental campaigners for a “short-sighted” approach to future economic growth in the energy sector, after it gave consent to a £4.6 billion oil development in the North Sea. Statoil has been granted permission to begin drilling at...
Greenpeace aims Twitter decarbonisation campaign at MPs
Environmental group Greenpeace is calling on individuals to tweet MPs, telling them to support an amendment to the energy bill that would see a 2030 electricity decarbonisation target added by April. Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Labour’s Barry Gardiner tabled the additions earlier this month, calling for the government...
Protesters rally in Washington to urge US climate action
Thousands of people rallied in Washington over the weekend, asking Barack Obama to move “forward on climate” and to stop work on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. According to organisers, more than 40,000 people, from citizens to organisations and pressure groups, invaded the streets of the US capital yesterday...
Government scapegoating retail for horsemeat scandal is pathetic
The government’s response to the horsemeat scandal has been shifting from blaming foreigners to blaming business. This strategy shows the vacuum of leadership and responsibility at the heart of modern governments, populated by career politicians and an increasingly narrow social group. The purpose of business is profit. We have...
Scottish government rejects ‘mistaken’ renewables claims
The Scottish government has brushed off claims that the country’s independence would jeopardise its ambitious renewable energy targets. According to a UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) report by researchers at four UK universities, Scotland would be unable to stump up sufficient subsidies to meet its ambitious target...
Breakdown of UK renewable energy support: infographic analysis
The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) recent public attitudes survey brought to light some interesting – and encouraging – figures regarding the support for clean energy. As well as questions on such topics as energy efficiency, energy bills, smart meters, nuclear power, climate change and electric cars,...
Scottish independence could jeopardise its renewables targets
Scotland’s plan to produce 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 is unlikely if the country becomes independent, according to an academic report. Energy researchers at Birmingham, Cardiff, Robert Gordon and Queens universities claim that Scotland would be unable to stump up sufficient subsidies to meet its...
Aggressive tax avoidance keeps on hitting the headlines
First it was big brands such as Starbucks, Amazon and Google squirming in parliament. Then it was the big four accountancy firms (KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young and Deloitte) sharing their ‘impartial’ insight with parliament while operating as well-paid advisers to government on tax policy and profiting from rules...
Centrica nuclear withdrawal reveals a ‘very troubled UK energy strategy’
The UK has missed renewable energy opportunities by focusing too heavily on new nuclear, according to campaigners reacting to Centrica’s decision to withdraw from the UK’s nuclear rebuilding programme. The energy firm, which owns British Gas, rejected the chance yesterday to take a 20% stake in four new reactors...
George Osborne is ‘seriously misinformed’ on sustainable business, says Al Gore
Former US vice-president Al Gore has criticised the UK government over its environmental commitments, adding that the stance taken by the chancellor George Osborne was “seriously misinformed”. Speaking to Channel 4 News yesterday evening, Gore, an ardent green campaigner who has won several awards for his activism, said the...
EU countries told to suspend insecticides harmful to bees
The European Commission has urged EU countries to ban the use of the neonicotinoid insecticides that are said to have driven a decline in the bee population. This follows a European Food Agency report that said a number of streams of the chemical “ the central nervous system of...
Campaigners celebrate victory as Cumbria votes against nuclear waste site
Cumbria will not become the host community for the government’s £12 billion nuclear waste disposal facility, after its county council voted in favour of withdrawing from the selection process. The news comes despite Copeland borough council voting in favour of the plans. But previous agreements mean there had to...
Osborne’s championing of HS2 proves his ideological objection to renewables
George Osborne spoke with passion when asked by the BBC to give the “economic case” for HS2 yesterday. Alex Blackburne writes how the chancellor’s answer revealed his true colours when it comes to renewable energy. The second phase of the government’s controversial high-speed rail network was revealed a little...
Why supporting innovation is vital for UK energy policy in 2013
Britain is facing an “energy efficiency revolution“. That was the claim brought forward by UK politicians last November, and it is now time to act on it. After all, writes Chris Farrell, the potential is there. As stated alongside November’s strategy, ”success in the energy efficiency sector was highlighted by the...
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