Draft Energy Bill published22 May 2012
Today the Government published its draft new energy bill, which was announced in the Queen's speech on 9 May.
This Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to decarbonise our electricity supply - and shake up our broken energy system.
But current Government proposals will leave us reliant on imported fossil fuels and nuclear power - instead of the clean British energy revolution we desperately need.
After 18 months of dithering, this Bill doesn't even set out a clear purpose, when it should make a simple commitment to decarbonising our electricity supply by 2030.
Paul Steedman, Friends of the Earth Senior Energy Campaigner
Nuclear power is a gamble we don't need to take.
And a new 'dash for gas' will prevent us from meeting our Climate Change Act targets.
Instead we're calling on the Government to use the Energy Bill to:
- Set a target to cut carbon from our electricity by 2030
- Limit pollution from power stations
- Reverse the domination of the Big Six power companies
- Provide straightforward support for renewable energy companies
- Ensure businesses, schools and hospitals can plug into clean power.
Take action
Last month Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden was interviewed by the BBC on behalf of Friends of the Earth about the need to switch to renewable energy.
Switching to renewable energy and cutting energy waste is our best hope of affordable fuel bills for the future.
Tell Energy Secretary Ed Davey you want your electricity to come from clean British energy, by backing our campaign.
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