Will Huhne tame the Big Six - and cut our pricey fossil fuel dependency? 20 September 2011
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne pledged to take on the Big Six energy firms at the Liberal Democrat Conference today.
He said he would make the energy market more competitive so more companies could enter.
But Friends of the Earth thinks the Minister is not doing enough to get our energy system on track.
It's ironic that Chris Huhne is calling for more market players as Government axes support to homes, communities and businesses to generate clean energy.
Friends of the Earth Energy Campaigner Donna Huhne
Friends of the Earth supports the move towards more competition in the energy market. It should be easier for people to switch tariffs and companies.
But gas prices are rocketing and the Government has done little to help provide us with energy we can all afford in the long term.
Liberal Democrats' broken promises
Friends of the Earth thinks the Liberal Democrats are not doing enough to build the low-carbon economy the Coalition Government has promised.
Instead, they have sided with their coalition partners to support policies that damage our environment:
- Chris Huhne
oversaw a slashing of funding for community energy. - Andrew Stunell
collaborated in proposed planning reforms that will create a building free-for-all. - Vince Cable and Danny Alexander
argued against advice from the Independent Committee on Climate Change about the fourth carbon budget.
Action needed
Friends of the Earth is asking the Government:
- Not to axe support for clean energy
The feed-in-tariff helps people produce the clean energy that will keep our bills stable and cheaper in the long run. - To insulate homes
To slash the amount of energy wasted in badly insulated homes. - To build greener homes
The planning reform must be changed to support greener development.
