The UK energy system will be less secure and less green if Britain leaves the EU, according to industry professionals. An “overwhelming majority” of respondents to the Energy Institute (EI)’s annual Barometer foresaw “negative effects on the UK energy system” in the event of Brexit, EI President Prof Jim Skea said in a report. “In terms of securing energy supplies, renewable energy development, climate change and sustainability, and air quality, about four times as many respondents anticipate negative effects,” he said. “The single exception to this pattern was oil and gas production, where positive and negative views were broadly balanced.”
Telegeraph 15th June 2016 read more »
The UK has two targets for renewable energy. The first is domestic: 20% of electricity should be renewably-generated by 2020. This is part of the 2008 Climate Act, passed under the aegis of Ed Milliband, then secretary of state for Energy. The second, confusingly, is the same 20% by 2020. This time, however, this is mandated by the EU. The difference is that the latter has teeth. EU member states are obliged to comply, or face a bunch of fines. So under EU membership the UK faces a financial loss if renewable energy targets are not hit. Fire in the belly of Boris ‘biker’ Johnson no doubt. But a successful tactic to focus thinking and drive markets towards solutions to climate change. If we leave the EU we are under no obligation to deliver renewable energy. Our commitment to dealing with climate change starts instead to look rather like our commitments at the Paris COP21 climate conference: all talk and no action.
Brighton Energy Co-op 15th June 2016 read more »