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Green energy will push up bills by £92 a year, admits Miliband
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent15.07.09
Home energy bills will rise on average by £92 a year as Britain turns into a low-carbon economy, climate change secretary Ed Miliband admitted today.
He sought to quash fears that increases would be far higher as the country comes to rely increasingly on wind, tidal, nuclear and solar power.
Some estimates put the likely increase at £230 a year for many families. But Mr Miliband told MPs that climate change policies would push up the average annual bill for domestic gas and energy by eight per cent, or £92, by 2020.
He also said bills would not increase until 2015 and that the rises were being kept down by energy efficiency improvements in homes.
"Renewables, nuclear and clean fossil fuels are the trinity of low carbon and the future of energy in Britain," he said. "We will get 40 per cent of our electricity from low-carbon energy by 2020 and more afterwards. Our plan will strengthen our energy security, it seeks to be fair to the most vulnerable, it seizes industrial opportunity and it rises to the moral challenge of climate change."
By 2020, the Low Carbon Transition Plan announced today aims for:
More than 1.2 million people to be in green jobs.
Seven million homes to have "pay-as-you-save" home insulation improvements, paid for by bill savings.
More than 1.5 million homes to get support to produce energy through wind turbines and solar panels
Twenty-six million households to have smart meters for more detailed electricity consumption information.
Britain to import half the amount of gas as predicted, and for the average new car to emit 40 per cent less carbon.
Britain is committed to a 34 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2020, but the plan was published amid reports that hundreds of jobs could go at a major wind turbine manufacturer.
The Tories accused the Government of stealing their ideas. "Our low-carbon revolution is still to come," said shadow climate change secretary Greg Clark.
Reader views (3)
I despise the Labour party. I despise the fact that every press release or news article concentrates on higher taxes, new taxes or price rises.
How on earth are these idiots still in power? It is quite frankly disgusting.
- Mike Barry, London
They really have got a death wish. It's unbelievable that they are imposing yet more stealth taxes. They just don't get it do they?
- Roger, Winchester, England
Mr Miliband,
I have been a commercial diver and suprintendent offshore for many years,now retiered.Working underwater for all the years that I and my colleges have,we have learnt much about our subsea envirionment.We can give our country all the domestic and commercial electrical energy required via,subsea turbine generators.We know there times,strengths and directions.Placed deep enough not to be a hazard to navigation and shallow enough for cost effective maintainance.Our offshore tech has brought about materials which can stand up to the harsh conditions for long periods.Do not be so quick as to jump on the nuc band wagon,when there are sound alternatives.But what do we know,we have only lived down there and been responsable for the many engineering installations that you take for granted,like a tap in your kitchen.I offer a chance for you to meet me and as many so called experts as you like,I,ll put my team together and give this country what it really needs,common sense from people who deal with facts every day of there working lives.I dare you.Do this and win,Stop listerning to all these so called experts they have not got it right yet? We do,every day of our working lives,if we did,nt,there would be no offshore set up.
We generally do not trust poloticians,so prove us wrong and we will come through for you.Do not get some office bod to answere this.You do it.All the Best Chris.
- Christian Albiel, uk
