UK to produce energy policy plans around year-end
Date: 15-May-02
Country: UK
A government-commissioned report, released in February, said Britain should raise its target for energy supplied by renewable sources to 20 percent by 2020 but also keep open the option to invest anew in nuclear power.
Then, Energy minister Brian Wilson signalled support for the conclusions of the Performance and Innovation Unit - a thinktank set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The government should set overall domestic targets for a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2010 and a further 20 percent over the next decade, the PIU said.
The government's existing target is for 10 percent of Britain's energy supplies to come from sources such as wind and solar power by 2010.
"I am determined to make the consultation process as open and inclusive as possible," Wilson said yesterday. "It will run from now until the end of the summer, leading to a White Paper around the turn of the year.
"This will include a response to the Performance and Innovation Unit's energy review and to its emphasis on a low-carbon economy and greater energy efficiency."
A White Paper sets out the government's legislative plans which can then be drafted into a bill to pass through parliament into law. Wilson set no deadline by which to achieve final legislation.
"Whether it be gas, electricity, solar power, wind power, coal or nuclear energy, we want to hear views on how our future energy policy framework can most effectively achieve...economic, environmental and social improvement," Wilson said.
"We must move towards a low carbon economy to respond to our climate change targets. Sustainable energy is the key."
