Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs must seize the opportunity to boost the economy and revive the Coalition’s ailing green credentials by backing industry calls for a clean power target, Friends of the Earth is urging today (Monday 3 June), ahead of a crucial MP vote on Tuesday (4 June).

As the long delayed Energy Bill finally returns to Parliament, the Coalition is facing the prospect of an embarrassing rebellion by Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs, eager to kick-start investment and jobs in the green economy and tackle climate change.

Around 300 MPs from all parties have already indicated their support for a set of amendments to the Bill, tabled by Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner MPs, to introduce a target to take the carbon out of the UK’s power sector by 2030.

The amendments are backed by the Labour Party, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party. Liberal Democrat Party policy is to support a decarbonisation target and party president Tim Farron is one of around 20 Coalition backbenchers who have said they will vote for the amendments.

Friends of the Earth is calling on MPs from all parties to put climate change and the UK economy first, and vote in favour of a clean power target on Tuesday.

Andy Atkins, Executive Director at Friends of the Earth’s said:

“This is the last chance saloon for the Liberal Democrats to swing the vote and block Osborne’s dash for gas. 

“MPs of all parties must back a target to make Britain a world leader in clean power.

“The Energy Bill is simply not fit for purpose unless it does what investors say is needed and commit the UK to clean British energy - thousands of jobs as well as our climate are at stake.

“The Chancellor’s vanity project of up to 40 new gas fire stations must be stopped – households can’t afford hikes in energy bills from volatile global gas prices.”

The target is also supported by a huge coalition of more than 200 leading businesses, energy investors, trade unions, charities and faith groups – including household names like Asda and Microsoft.

The target would prevent Chancellor George Osborne from increasing the UK’s reliance on polluting and increasingly costly gas imports, and send a green light to firms wanting to make long-term investments in UK renewable energy and its supply chains.

It is estimated that committing to low-carbon power would save households and businesses up to £45 billion, because the price of gas is expected to rise.  However, this could rise to £100 billion, if the gas price rise is higher than expected.

The Government wants to delay setting this target until 2016 at the earliest, but big manufacturers who invest in UK supply chains, such as Vestas, Siemens and Alstom, have warned that more delays will see business and jobs lost abroad to countries with clear low-carbon energy commitments. Meanwhile the Chancellor is pushing for the Energy Bill to provide support from bill-payers to build up to 40 new gas power stations, starting in 2014.

Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, Campaign Ambassador for Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, added:

“With the economy struggling for recovery, the last thing we should be doing is driving business and jobs abroad.

“Renewable energy is the future, it’s no wonder firms want to invest – but they need to know UK demand isn’t set to fall off a cliff-edge because the country’s too busy importing fossil fuels.

“A clean power target is a fantastic opportunity to revive British manufacturing and boost green growth – MPs must grab it with both hands.”

Robert Norris, Head of Communications at renewable energy trade association RenewableUK said:

“Without a 2030 target there's a risk momentum will be lost – and that would mean fewer green collar jobs in the UK for generations to come.”

ENDS

1. The Energy Bill reaches Report Stage in Parliament on Monday 3 June 2013 and MPs will vote between 12.30 and 4.30pm on Tuesday 4 June on whether to amend it to include a target to decarbonise UK power by 2030. The Bill is the key piece of policy that will make a difference to climate change in this parliament, and will determine the way we power the UK for the next generation. Already almost 300 MPs from all parties have shown their support for the target; an extra 25 MPs need to vote in favour of it on Tuesday in order for the amendment to be made.

2. The so called ‘green jobs amendment’ was tabled in February 2013 by Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee Tim Yeo MP and by Barry Gardiner MP. This came shortly after the Government tabled its own amendment to the Bill, which Friends of the Earth said was too vague and delays a decision until 2016 at the earliest, if at all.

3. Over 200 major businesses, trade unions, charities and faith groups back the inclusion of a clean power target in the Energy Bill to clean up our electricity by 2030. They say it would kick-start investment in UK renewable energy, which in turn would help tackle climate change, create jobs and provide the framework needed for affordable energy for the future.

4. The Government’s independent climate adviser, the Committee on Climate Change, says that as well as boosting the economy, a clean power target is the cheapest way to deliver our climate change goals. It also says that a dash for gas will cost bill payers £25 -100 billion more in 2020-2030 than if the UK develops low-carbon energy. That’s at least £600 extra on annual fuel bills.

5. New research by Friends of the Earth estimates that an extra 550 million tonnes of carbon dioxide will be emitted into the atmosphere if the Government fails to set a clean power target now and instead embarks on a new dash for gas; equivalent to the emissions of every car and van in Britain for 8 years, or every UK international flight for 16 years.

6. Renewable UK estimates that 29,000 potential jobs in the renewables industry are hanging in the balance, heavily dependent upon policy certainty – which a 2030 decarbonisation target will help to provide.

7. In March 2013, six leading investors including Alstom, Mitsubishi, Areva, Doosan, Gamesa, and Vestas warned the Government that failing to set a clean power target this year risks delaying developments and losing jobs abroad.

8. According to the CBI, green business already accounts for almost one million jobs. The Renewable Energy Association estimates that that there could be as many as 400,000 jobs nationwide by 2020, if the UK stays on course for tackling climate change.

9. Friends of the Earth has a range of case studies available of people working in the renewable energy sector who support a clean power target and are happy to be interviewed by media. For contact details please contact Friends of the Earth’s press office – 020 7566 1649.

10. Liberal Democrat conference in September 2012 overwhelmingly passed a resolution, proposed by Danny Alexander MP, calling for a decarbonisation target.

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

12. 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. To find out more and back the campaign visit: www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.