RenewableUK, the trade and professional body representing the wind and marine energy industry, has welcomed a call from an influential group of Conservative MPs to support the growth of renewable energy.
Members of the 2020 group, made up of more than 60 Tory MPs, describe themselves as progressive and forward-looking Conservatives. It includes several high-profile figures such as the Energy Minister Greg Barker, Transport Secretary Justine Greening and the Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Letwin.
The group has just published a new document “2020 Vision: An Agenda for Transformation” in which two Conservative MPs, Laura Sandys and Claire Perry , specifically highlight the growing importance of wind, wave and tidal energy in protecting consumers against future unpredictable fossil fuel price rises. They say “there is a total convergence on what is good for business and what is good for the environment” and that “it is our energy sector – the renewal and decarbonisation of our electricity generation – that will determine whether we have a resilient economy designed for the future and hedged from the volatile costs of imported fossil fuel” . They also state that ‘greening the economy is not “nice to have” but a total necessity’.
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive, Maf Smith, said: “This forward-looking group of Conservative MPs has clearly articulated a vision which many of us share. Opinion polls show that they’re in tune with the majority of public opinion on the growing importance of renewable energy.
“We can build an escape route for consumers from the uncontrollable rise of fossil fuel prices by decarbonising our energy supply and generating clean electricity from our own natural resources. It’s great to see an influential group of progressive Tory MPs going public in their support for this.
“The business case is compelling not just in terms of reducing the long term cost of energy, but also in securing economic growth, as nearly 90,000 of us will be working in the wind, wave and tidal energy industries by 2020.”
[mappress]
Press release, January 08, 2013