This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/28/why-energy-firms-u-turning-green-agenda
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Why are energy firms U-turning on green agenda now? | Why are energy firms U-turning on green agenda now? |
| (6 months later) | |
| The decision by Britain’s most powerful energy lobby group to take a positive stance on building a low-carbon economy is a significant moment. | The decision by Britain’s most powerful energy lobby group to take a positive stance on building a low-carbon economy is a significant moment. |
| It gives major impetus to the green agenda just as it is being undermined by influential sceptics inside the Conservative party, Treasury and Department of Energy and Climate Change. | It gives major impetus to the green agenda just as it is being undermined by influential sceptics inside the Conservative party, Treasury and Department of Energy and Climate Change. |
| Since the Tories took full control of the energy agenda in spring last year there has been a bonfire of much-needed subsidies for wind and solar, using the excuse of customer “affordability”. | Since the Tories took full control of the energy agenda in spring last year there has been a bonfire of much-needed subsidies for wind and solar, using the excuse of customer “affordability”. |
| The comment from Lawrence Slade, the boss of Energy UK, that he believes Britain needs an Energiewende (German low-carbon energy transformation) is like holding up garlic to the vampires on the Tory backbenches who have been pushing for a go-slow on everything green. | The comment from Lawrence Slade, the boss of Energy UK, that he believes Britain needs an Energiewende (German low-carbon energy transformation) is like holding up garlic to the vampires on the Tory backbenches who have been pushing for a go-slow on everything green. |
| Slade has not just made a few loose comments. He has produced a significant report, Pathways to 2030, undertaken with the help of accountants KPMG, about the need to help renewables, reduce energy demand and move away fast from some fossil fuels. | Slade has not just made a few loose comments. He has produced a significant report, Pathways to 2030, undertaken with the help of accountants KPMG, about the need to help renewables, reduce energy demand and move away fast from some fossil fuels. |
| But do we believe this is more that just words? Has it really got the support of all his members? And why the U-turn now? | But do we believe this is more that just words? Has it really got the support of all his members? And why the U-turn now? |
| In the end these are indeed just words on a page and do not, for instance, commit companies to build much-needed power stations: British Gas parent Centrica admitted recently that it had zero investment in new plants. | In the end these are indeed just words on a page and do not, for instance, commit companies to build much-needed power stations: British Gas parent Centrica admitted recently that it had zero investment in new plants. |
| As a statement of intent though, it is very important even if, as Slade has hinted, not every one of his members supports it as strongly as others. | As a statement of intent though, it is very important even if, as Slade has hinted, not every one of his members supports it as strongly as others. |
| The change in attitude is probably due to several factors: the Paris climate change talks; new personnel (Slade took over recently from the “traditionalist” former Conservative minister Angela Knight and Centrica has swapped its boss too); and a realisation that Energy UK has been on the wrong side of a carbon argument for too long. | The change in attitude is probably due to several factors: the Paris climate change talks; new personnel (Slade took over recently from the “traditionalist” former Conservative minister Angela Knight and Centrica has swapped its boss too); and a realisation that Energy UK has been on the wrong side of a carbon argument for too long. |
| Will it stop the big six overcharging retail customers or other abuses? No. Is it an important step for the industry? Yes. | Will it stop the big six overcharging retail customers or other abuses? No. Is it an important step for the industry? Yes. |