Tory Planning Policies and Lib Dem Renewable Policies just don’t add up according to former energy and climate change minister Ed Miliband.
Speaking during a House of Commons debate, Mr Miliband criticised the coalition government saying that their renewables policy doesn’t yet add up because they have Lib Dem targets with Conservative planning policy. He also said their nuclear policy doesn’t add up because they have three positions.
On economic growth, Miliband believes that short term cuts will “deny us the long term economic strength we need“. “In the months ahead we will be holding them to account to deliver, because it is in everyone in this country’s interests that we deliver on fairness on energy security and on climate change” said Miliband.
A report ‘UK Energy and the Environment’ published this week by independent company Cambridge Econometrics found that based on current policies, the UK is set to hit 6% of renewable energy by 2020 rather than the 15% target.
Many in the renewable energy industry are concerned that the new coalition planning bill risks weakening renewable energy policies and making renewable energy infrastructure unaffordable in many locations. If all the proposed measures are introduced the bill is likely to bring new projects to a grinding halt in many parts of the UK. The Coalition government to date have no strategic plan to reach their challenging renewable energy commitments beyond hoping that local authorities will all contribute fairly.
