Yet another Energy Bill is trundling through the House of Commons and this time I’m leading for the Opposition on the Committee Stage. That’s not the big news: it is just that, unlike previous energy bills in which I have taken part as a committee member, this time I appear to have to do most of the talking. The Bill, in part, gives legislative substance to the Government’s decision to row back on the ending of the Renewables Obligation for onshore wind (and pretty much flatten onshore wind in England in the process) but it is largely about oil, gas and the North Sea. It will also squash what looks to be a substantial new long term industry for a depleted North Sea. Namely the ‘storage’ end of the Carbon Capture and Storage process.
Alan Whitehead MP 16th Feb 2016 read more »