UK's Brown Launches "Green Revolution" Energy Plan
UK: June 27, 2008
LONDON - Britain set out plans on Thursday for a tenfold increase in
renewable energy within 12 years in a scheme welcomed for its ambition but
criticised for lacking concrete policies to cut carbon emissions and reduce
dependency on fossil fuels.
The government's proposals for meeting its 2020 target of getting 15 percent
of energy from renewables foresees a third of electricity coming from
renewables, 100 billion pounds of investment and bigger utility bills to
help pay for it.
"This is a green revolution in the making... It is the most dramatic change
in our energy policy since the advent of nuclear power," Prime Minister
Gordon Brown said at the launch in London's Tate Modern, a coal-fired power
station turned art gallery. "I'm absolutely certain that this is the right
course for this country."
The proposals include increasing support and removing planning obstacles for
clean energy projects to get 4,000 more wind turbines erected onshore and
3,000 more at sea by 2020, while increasing help for renewable heat and
microgeneration.
The government warned that the extra cost of turning Britain into low-carbon
economy meant even higher energy costs for consumers, which could be
partially offset by greater energy efficiency,
Britain's biggest energy supplier Centrica said the plan would be costly for
householders already facing rising fuel costs but argued that it was
worthwhile.
"The investment needed -- 100 billion pounds (US$197.4 billion) on the
government's own estimate which equates to around 1,600 pounds for every
man, woman and child in the UK over the next decade -- is worthwhile when
compared to the consequences of doing nothing," Gearoid Lane, managing
director of British Gas New Energy said.
CAUTIOUS WELCOME
The strategy was widely but cautiously welcomed by industry observers and
environmentalists encouraged by the government's broader approach but
worried that another consultation was wasting time.
"While the government should be applauded for taking a more holistic view on
all forms of renewable energy, another period of policy review and
consultation cannot be so warmly welcomed," Ben Warren, a clean energy
director at Ernst & Young said.
"The time for talking is surely over -- as we get ever nearer to 2020 some
tough decisions need to be made."
Britain's Renewable Energy Association criticised the government for talking
too much and doing too little, while engineering representatives warned it
had underestimated the problems with building so many wind farms so quickly.
Britain gets only about 5 percent of its electricity from renewables,
largely because planning and grid connection problems have stunted the
growth of the industry, but turbine manufacturers are already struggling to
meet rapidly growing global demand.
The govermment wants the nationwide expansion of renewable energy to be
complimented by new nuclear power stations and "clean coal" power plants
which could bury the harmful carbon emissions from them.
Environment campaign group Friends of the Earth said it was "good news that
the government is now waking up to the huge untapped potential for clean
energy" and that if it could back the plans with concrete policy changes
coal-fired power stations should not be needed.
UK energy network operator National Grid said the 2020 target could be
achieved, if backed by the whole industry and supported by reforms set out
in the Planning Bill -- which faces a vote in the Lords after getting
through the Commons on Wednesday -- and a new offshore regulatory framework.
The government hopes some 160,000 jobs could be created in the renewables
sector, with 100,000 more potential jobs for building and operating the new
nuclear power stations that it wants private companies to build. (Reporting
by Daniel Fineren)
Story by Daniel Fineren
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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