From his zany social media videos and bold announcements, Ed Miliband has set himself up to lead Labour’s clean power revolution. Tomorrow he will be quizzed on when he will deliver cheaper bills.
In this first appearance since he was appointed Secretary of State, Miliband will face MPs on the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, who will be asking questions on the UK’s clean energy transition and progress towards its legally binding target of a net zero economy by 2050.
Recent evidence from the minister for energy consumers, the National Energy System Operator and the Climate Change Committee, among others, have repeatedly thrown up the challenges of the transition.
Cost to consumers
All have been clear that the key factor is cost to consumers: whether that’s upfront costs for the technology required, or energy prices and bills.
The committee says these sessions have shown the Government have a tricky balancing act as they cover costs with industry levies, consumer bills and general taxation.
Apart from a better environment, it’s clear says the committee, the key benefit of the clean energy transition is insulation from geopolitical shocks to energy supply and prices.
MPs want answers
How and when will we really be able move away from gas as the basis of both our energy supply and its price? When will our electricity get cheaper?”
Is the fundamental question for Miliband.
The committee will also be asking wow will we scale up renewable energy sources and, crucially, overcome the planning barriers currently keeping viable renewable sources in a long queue to connect to the grid.
Other lines of enquiry include;
Are there national security concerns about ownership of renewable technologies?
How fast can we transition away from the UK’s own North Sea oil and gas, and how will that transition be financed as the significant tax receipts it provides dry up?
Major questions remain about the effect of the unproven technologies, like carbon capture and storage, as well as how they will be financed.
The Energy Secretary will need to respond to this and much more, you can watch the session live tomorrow on Parliament TV.
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