Responding to a report on Electricity Market Reform published by the Committee on Climate Change today (Thursday 23 May), warning against the Government’s planned dash for gas, Friends of the Earth’s Energy Campaigner Guy Shrubsole said:

“This report shows the total folly of Osborne's dash for gas. As well as undermining efforts to tackle climate change it would be disastrous for UK plc, adding an extra £25 billion to energy bills compared to if we invest now in home-grown renewable energy.

“The Government’s independent advisers have made it crystal-clear that it must urgently set a target to clean up UK power – this will drive forward investment in affordable renewable energy and create thousands of new jobs.

“MPs must vote for a clean power target when the Energy Bill returns to Parliament next month. This is their one chance to make the UK a world leader in renewables technology – failing to act will see us losing business abroad.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. The Energy Bill reaches Report Stage on 3 June 2013, and MPs are expected to vote on Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner MP’s ‘green jobs amendment’ to the Bill on 4 June.

2. For more information on the need for a decarbonisation target see a joint briefing by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.

3. Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, backed by TV Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden, is urging the Government to act now to fix our broken energy system by setting a target in the Energy Bill to clean up our electricity by 2030. Slashing energy waste and developing renewable power from our wind, sun and waves will tackle climate change, create thousands of UK jobs, and make our future fuel bills more predictable.