Commenting on a report by the Committee on Climate Change today (Thursday 13 December 2012) which warns UK fuel bills in 2050 could be £600 more expensive than today if we fail to support renewable energy, Friends of the Earth’s Economics Campaigner David Powell said:

“This report is spot on. Fuel bills will rocket unless we rapidly wean our electricity system off fossil fuels.

“Clean power and saving energy are an essential insurance policy against sky-high fuel bills and the costs of climate change – investing in them now will be far cheaper for us all in the long-run.

“The Government must help make energy more affordable for Britain’s poorest by boosting efforts to insulate homes – current plans are inadequate and will leave millions out in the cold.

“The current Energy Bill is an acid test of the Coalition’s long-term vision – Ministers must say no to Osborne's dash for gas and set a target for cleaning up our power sector to give renewable energy firms the confidence to invest in Britain.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Last week Friends of the Earth criticised the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and the announcement of a Gas Strategy which outlined a costly and damaging dash for gas

2. Last month, Friends of the Earth published the names of over 100 businesses, parties and charities backing the inclusion of a target in the Energy Bill to green electricity by 2030. The Chancellor George Osborne, and energy companies Centrica and RWE, were shown to be the only major public opposition.

3. Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, backed by Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden, is urging the Government to listen to the public and transform our broken energy system by developing clean and affordable power from our wind, sun and water. For too long the Big Six energy companies have locked Britain into importing costly gas and coal – causing our fuel bills to rocket. Now 85 per cent of people want the Government to back UK renewable power instead. This, and cutting energy waste, will stabilise fuel bills and create new jobs.