Archived press release

Energy review: right direction, wrong speed

14 February 2002

And Nuclear Spectre Still Stalks Land

The Government's Energy Review is a welcome step in the right direction, but not the great strategic leap forward required to create a low carbon economy Friends of the Earth said today.Although the Review recommends a big shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency, it does not go far enough. It also sends some very worrying signals about potential future support for the nuclear industry, and casts doubt over the UK's long-term commitment to tackling climate change

Nuclear power: The report recommends that the nuclear power option should be kept open and describes how a new generation of power stations might benefit from fast-tracking the planning system and potential tax-breaks, for example under the climate change levy. FOE is pleased that there is no extra support for existing nuclear power plants.

Carbon dioxide emissions: Worryingly the report says that although the UK has made deep cuts in its carbon dioxide emissions over recent years “there is little sense in doing so and incurring large costs in competitiveness if other countries do not take the same action”. It rejects calls by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution for the UK to sign up to a carbon dioxide reduction target of 60% by 2050.

Renewable energy: review recommends that renewable energy should supply 20% of all electricity by 2020. Whilst this is a significant improvement on current levels, it still falls a long way short of the amount of electricity renewable sources could - and should - generate.Denmark and Finland are planning for 30% renewables by 2010 and the European Union average is 22%.

The report recommends the removal of existing barriers to the deployment of renewables -such as the new electricity trading arrangements and planning . The Government must bring in these measures as fast as possible otherwise targets will not be met.

Energy efficiency: Though welcome this is not much more than business as usual. What is really needed is a tough energy demand-reduction target. Efficiency improvements will not necessarily deliver reduced emissions if demand continues to rise.

• FOE welcomes the call for greater public participation in decision making on energy projects.

Charles Secrett, Executive Director at Friends of the Earth said:

“The review is a welcome step in the right direction, but not the great
leap forward required to combat climate change and create the low carbon
economy promised by the Prime Minister. It is good the review recognises
the critical role that renewable energy and energy efficiency must play
in meeting future energy needs. But the targets are too modest.
Britain will continue to lag behind the renewables revolution led by
Sweden, Denmark and Spain.

The review should have slammed the coffin lid on nuclear power once for all. Kept moving only by the voodoo economics of Brian Wilson, the nuclear spectre still stalks the land.”

[1] The Energy Review was launched by the Prime Minister on 25th June,
2001 and was carried out by the Performance and Innovation Unit at the
Cabinet Office. It looked “at energy policy for Great Britain to 2050"
and aimed “to set out the objectives of energy policy and to develop a
strategy that ensures current policy commitments are consistent with
longer-term goals”.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust