The published Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition deal contains a number of points of agreement of relevance and interest to the energy sector. These include:
- The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters.
- The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity, and the maintenance of banded ROCs.
- Promotion of "a huge increase" in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.
- The creation of a green investment bank.
- The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills.
- Retention of energy performance certificates (but the scrapping of Home Improvement Packs).
- Measures to encourage marine energy.
The Coalition has also agreed to seek to increase renewable energy targets, albeit subject to the advice of the climate change committee.
As far as nuclear is concerned, the two parties have agreed a process that will allow Liberal Democrats to maintain their opposition to nuclear power while allowing the government to put a national planning statement before Parliament which (if passed) would allow new nuclear construction to occur. The deal is that a Lib Dem spokesman will be allowed to speak against the planning statement, but that Lib Dem MPs will abstain from the vote.
In a surprise move, Lib Dem Chris Huhne has been appointed as Energy & Climate Change Secretary.
Disclaimer
The material contained in this article is of the nature of general comment only and does not give advice on any particular matter. Recipients should not act on the basis of the information in this e-update without taking appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.