Ed Miliband is set to announce an energy independence act that will enable the Labour government to establish an electricity system based on clean energy by 2030.
As reported by the Guardian, the shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero will announce the bill at the Labour party conference, establishing “Great British Energy,” a publicly owned energy company announced by Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Criticising the government’s green energy policies and U-turns, Miliband is expected to tell the Labour party conference: “Every time [the government] turn their back on a clean energy future, they leave us exposed to global fossil fuel markets, at the mercy of dictators and petrostates, driving up bills, making us more insecure.”
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Miliband is also set to say: “Energy produced in Britain, jobs and wealth created in Britain. Taking back control of our energy system. In the 20th century through North Sea oil, Britain powered the world and controlled our destiny.”
“In the 21st century, with Labour, Britain will be an energy superpower once again, exporting clean power to the world and controlling our destiny. British families and business never again held to ransom by Putin,” Miliband will add.
Commenting on the act, Greenpeace head of politics Rebecca Newsom said: “It’s encouraging to see Labour taking this critical step to unlocking the UK’s renewable potential.
“Our outdated energy grid is one of the biggest barriers to the clean energy transition, it’s blocking us from genuine energy security, lower bills, and benefits for the climate that renewables would bring,” added Newson.
She added, however: “In order to make sure this plan is robust, we need to hear more on how Labour would speed up the planning system.
“This includes fast-track delivering the offshore grid in harmony with nature, and smart local upgrades to ensure all properties are well connected to power supplies. The next days of the party conference are a chance to flesh out these details.”
