Support renewable energy targets

Dear Mr Hutton

I am writing to express my support for a strong Renewable Energy Directive. The development of renewable energy is clearly crucial given the urgent need to drive down carbon dioxide emissions. At present only around 7% of the EU's energy comes from renewable sources, with a lamentable 2% in the UK. Achieving a 15% target by 2020 in the UK, as proposed in the draft Renewable Energy Directive, would be an important start and deliver investment in our own considerable renewable resources such as wind and wave power. I am therefore alarmed that the UK is seeking to introduce mechanisms that would undermine domestic achievement of the renewable energy target, not just in the UK, but in other European countries. Buying renewable energy certificates from countries outside the EU, shifting the deadlines for large projects, or diluting the target with rewards for carbon capture and storage would seriously hinder the development of renewable energy in the UK and EU. Such concessions would encourage us to continue with our current polluting energy technologies. The UK should instead be promoting the use of a strong compliance regime that sends clear signals to countries to meet the targets or suffer penalties, with binding intermediate targets so that countries do not slip in their ambition. The Directive should also rule that renewable energy should have priority access to the power and gas grid networks, currently a major obstacle for projects. The price of oil has hit record levels recently and energy prices have risen dramatically. This alone shows that we should be developing our own renewable energy sources. With resources in abundance, the UK needs to commit to developing our own domestic renewable energy industry considering our current low base. The 15% target by 2020 is a good start and will lay the foundations for further development of renewable energy beyond 2020. The target will require ambition and the willingness to drive change - but that change needs to happen.

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