Press release
Green energy switch will insulate big industry from fossil fuel price hikes
29 July 2011
Commenting on the Government's provisional estimate of the impacts of climate and energy policies on large energy intensive users, published today [Friday 29 july 2011] Friends of the Earth's Head of Policy Mike Childs said:
"This report shows that rising fossil fuel prices are the main reason for rocketing fuel bills - the best way to insulate us all against future price hikes is to invest in energy saving and green power.
"The era of cheap fossil fuels is over - developing the UK's vast green energy potential and cutting energy waste will slash fuel bills, wean the nation off of its dependency on overseas gas and oil and create thousands of new jobs.
"The energy intensive industries should stop crying wolf on green measures - they'll pay a hefty price if the Government fails to ignite a green energy revolution."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Department of Energy and Climate Change(DECC) - Provisional estimates of the impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills of large energy intensive users.
2. The DECC report says: "It is important to note that global fossil fuel prices are the main drivers of energy prices in the UK (and elsewhere) and that if, as expected, they continue to rise over the coming years, energy bills will increase with or without policies. Moreover, were the UK to do nothing our energy supplies will become much more dependent on imports, more vulnerable to volatility in global fossil fuel prices, and there will be a far higher chance of costly and disruptive blackouts."
3. Over the last decade the UK has moved from being a net exporter to an importer of fossil fuels - upon which we are now dependent for around 30% of our total energy use.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Aug 2011
