Despite Jeremy Corbyn’s previous controversial ‘personal wish’ to nationalise the energy industry, Lisa Nandy, the new shadow energy secretary has stated they will not be pursuing this. “Jeremy and I don’t want to nationalise energy. We want to do something much more radical. We want to democratise it,” Nandy announced. She instead plans to focus […]
Government to reform business energy efficiency taxes
The government has set out new business energy efficiency policy proposals to simplify and improve corporate carbon taxation schemes with a view to decarbonising the economy and ensuring secure energy supplies. These changes have been brought about as the government has ruled that there is a significant amount of cost-effective energy and carbon saving potential […]
Tories debate over renewables and energy policies
After public concern after cuts to renewable energy subsidies, the Tories gathered to discuss energy policies at a conference fringe meeting. Conservative MP for the Wells constituency and member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, James Heappey cautioned: “Certainly we should not be making an enemy of the renewables sector.” He was responding to […]
Corbyn appoints experienced shadow energy ministers
Jeremy Corbyn has been busy since he was elected Labour leader by creating a six strong team for shadow Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) made up of the most experienced ministers. Energy and climate change committee (ECCC) member Alan Whitehead has been named, as well as former shadow water minister Barry Gardiner. Both […]
CEO of Renewable UK announces resignation
Maria McCaffery, chief executive of Renewable UK has announced that she will step down from her role in spring next year. Her successor will be recruited in the coming weeks. We’d be interested to know if the new government and its attitude towards renewable energy development has been a deciding factor for McCaffery. Maria said […]
Offshore windfarm application rejected by DECC
A 970MW offshore windfarm application has been refused by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) due to the potential visual impact to the landscape. Energy secretary Amber Rudd said that the project posed a “significant adverse impact” to viewers standing on the Dorset coastline, much of which is designated by Unesco as a […]
Tories to allow fracking in nature reserves
The government pledged to restrict fracking in national parks, yet in July it reneged on it’s pre-election promise to protect the thousands of wildlife sites in the UK. Nearly 300 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), home to rare animals and plants, have now been opened up to fracking by the Tory government. This is a far […]
Government rejects four Welsh wind farm proposals
Four Welsh onshore wind farm projects have been denied by the UK government amid concerns over their effect on local biodiversity, local traffic, landscape and visual impacts. “Careful consideration has been given to each application, and the planning and energy issues involved,” a DECC spokesperson said in a statement. The proposed Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llanbrynmair, […]
New fast-track process for fracking applications
A new process has been set up for fracking applications to ensure that the government can fast-track appeals without lengthy decision-making. The measures include identifying councils, which repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within the 16-week statutory timeframe, with subsequent applications potentially decided by the communities secretary. We’re rather bemused by the decision […]
Public ownership for the Big Six and National Grid says Corbyn
Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn has announced he wants to renationalise the big six energy companies and National Grid if he were leading a Labour government. He said: “I would want the public ownership of the gas and the National Grid. I would personally wish that the big six were under public control, or public […]