Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Major investment in National Grid is urgently needed to fight climate change
4 March 2009
Commenting on today's report by the Electricity Network Strategy Group calling for the UK electricity grid to be upgraded in order to meet the target for 15 per cent of the nation's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
"Major investment in the National Grid is urgently needed to enable the UK to meet its renewable energy targets and tackle our greenhouse gas emissions.
"The UK could be a world leader in green power - we are the windiest country in Europe and have the continent's best wave and tidal resources.
"But up to now the short-term attitude of the energy regulator Ofgem and lack of strategic thinking have stood in the way of the massive expansion of renewable energy needed to tackle climate change and bring hundreds of thousands of new jobs to this country.
"This report indicates that the power industry is ready to play its part in a low carbon future - the Government must now show that it has the bold political vision to make it a reality."
Notes:
1. Our Electricity Transmission Network - A vision for 2020. A Report by the Electricity Networks Strategy Group. http://www.ensg.gov.uk/assets/1696-01-ensg_vision2020.pdf
2. Ofgem has to approve the investment needed to upgrade the National Grid. Friends of the Earth is calling the regulator to back the proposal and give funding the green light. The environmental campaign group is also calling for Ofgem to be reformed so that tackling climate change is at the heart of its remit.
To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Apr 2009
