Labour pledges to ban fracking for good while Tories attempt to block solar wind
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The Labour Party has today challenged Prime Minister Liz Truss to
reverse plans to block the development of new solar wind projects
[1], whilst also pledging that the Labour Party will ban dangerous
fracking once and for all. On a visit to Bassetlaw, with
Parliamentary Candidate Jo White, Ed Miliband will today meet with
local residents to hear their concerns over potential fracking of
shale gas near their village. Miliband will set out Labour’s
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The Labour Party has today challenged Prime Minister Liz Truss to reverse plans to block the development of new solar wind projects [1], whilst also pledging that the Labour Party will ban dangerous fracking once and for all. On a visit to Bassetlaw, with Parliamentary Candidate Jo White, Ed Miliband will today meet with local residents to hear their concerns over potential fracking of shale gas near their village. Miliband will set out Labour’s commitment to work with MPs who oppose fracking by bringing forward an opposition day motion that would maintain the ban on fracking once and for all. Ed Miliband will also visit a solar farm to set out his opposition to Liz Truss controversial plans to block new solar projects, and highlighted Labour’s pledge to triple the size of the UK solar industry in their first term as part of making Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. In 2019, every Conservative MP stood on a manifesto that pledged to ban fracking, however Liz Truss’ government has now broken this promise. The Government has also indicated that they will override local consent and outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies. [2] Fracking would not solve the energy security or price issues the UK currently faces. The shale gas extracted by fracking would make no difference to gas prices, and is a more expensive alternative to renewables, which are currently up to nine times cheaper than gas. [3] This position was stated by the current Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, who wrote in February 2022 that “No amount of shale gas…would be enough to lower the European price [of gas]...” [4] There are also serious concerns about the environmental damage that fracking would cause to local communities, including both the risk of exacerbating earthquakes and seismic events, and the fact that fracking relies on poorly regulated chemicals that could harm local water supplies and wildlife. [5] Many fracking sites would also impact some of the most environmentally protected areas in England, potentially damaging national parks and areas of natural beauty. [6] Blocking solar would rob the UK of potential for cheap power that could bring down bills for households. Even before the Ukraine crisis, new solar was a quarter of the price of gas. [7] Destroying the solar industry would make the UK energy even more insecure, increasing our reliance on imported gas from Russia and other fossil fuel exporting countries. Each 5GW of additional solar would cut UK gas imports by 2%. [8] Solar power could supply 17% of the UK’s annual electricity needs by 2035, supporting 60,000 jobs. [9] Labour’s plans to expand solar power and block fracking are part of Keir Starmer’s commitment to make the UK a world-leading clean energy superpower by 2030. This landmark plan will slash energy bills for good, create hundreds of thousands of good jobs, and make the UK energy secure, while providing global leadership in tackling the climate crisis. Labour’s plan to deliver a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030 is an ambitious but achievable target that would make the UK the world’s first major economy to do so. This world-leading commitment will give the UK energy security, make us an energy export superpower, tackle the climate crisis to leave a better world for our children, and, with renewables now nine times cheaper than gas, cut thousands of pounds off energy bills for good. The plan also includes Labour’s commitment to create GB Energy, a publicly-owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an energy independent superpower. Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary, said: “Labour will stand with communities in opposing the Conservatives’ dodgy plans to impose expensive, dirty, and dangerous fracking on the British people. Fracking would make no difference to energy prices, and could risk the health of local communities, nature, and water supplies. “Labour will stand up to Liz Truss’ unjust Charter for Earthquakes, including her plans to outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies. “And if Liz Truss blocks solar wind she will be declaring unilateral energy disarmament- undermining our energy security and forcing the British people to accept decades of higher energy bills. “Only Labour can deliver lower energy bills and energy security for the UK, with our plans for clean power by 2030 - including trebling solar power - and GB Energy, a publicly-owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an energy independent superpower. Ends Notes to Editors [3] https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1562433136025550848 [7] https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1493906926907924481?s=20&t=1f5NA_TYjvcmMHO3X3dHEA [9] https://solarenergyuk.org/news/uk-government-proposals-would-block-growth-in-solar-energy/ Labour’s Plan for Clean Power by 2030 The next Labour Government will launch an urgent mission for a fossil fuel free electricity system by 2030, making the UK a clean energy superpower, exporting clean power to the rest of the world. Labour’s world-leading proposals will:
The benefits of this plan are:
[1] https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/uk-gas-power-phase-out/ |