Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth - News

The Energy Bill  24th April 2013

The Energy Bill will shape the energy sources used to power Britain for the next forty years. We need to attract over £100 billion investment over the next decade to replace and upgrade our energy infrastructure and diversify the energy mix. The choices made now will have long-standing consequences for the future competitiveness of the economy, energy prices and consumer bills – and our climate targets. The International Energy Agency has warned that the world faces serious risks from climate change unless the world makes a significant and urgent shift in investment patterns towards energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and away from fossil fuels.
There is a strong consensus across businesses, investors and civil society that the best way to position the UK as a modern, efficient economy attracting investment and creating jobs, while cutting carbon emissions
and controlling energy costs, is to decarbonise our electricity supply by 2030.
However, as it stands the Energy Bill will not deliver this.
Three issues dominated Second Reading and Committee Stage that if addressed would ensure the Energy Bill delivers for the economy, consumers and the environment:
1. the need for a power sector decarbonisation target in 2030;
2. the lack of energy efficiency measures in the Bill;
3. the dangers of dependence on expensive, volatile, imported fossil fuels.

Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner have tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill which would introduce a target for clean power by 2030, in line with Committee on Climate Change advice. We are asking members to send letters to their MP asking them to add their names to this amendment. Please download the draft letter add your details and send it to your MP today