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Brown pushes wind power expansion | Brown pushes wind power expansion |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of new wind turbines could be built across the UK over the coming decade as part of a £100bn plan to boost renewable energy. | Thousands of new wind turbines could be built across the UK over the coming decade as part of a £100bn plan to boost renewable energy. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK should be a leader in renewable energy. | |
But he warned it would not come from "business as usual" and he called for a national debate on achieving the UK's target of 15% renewable energy by 2020. | |
The Tories said "at last" Labour was coming round to "our vision". The Lib Dems say Labour fails to deliver. | |
In a speech earlier, Mr Brown said the government's plans represented the "most dramatic change in our energy policy since the advent of nuclear power". | In a speech earlier, Mr Brown said the government's plans represented the "most dramatic change in our energy policy since the advent of nuclear power". |
Increasing our renewable energy sources in these ways, on this scale, will require national purpose and a shared national endeavour Prime Minister Gordon Brown | Increasing our renewable energy sources in these ways, on this scale, will require national purpose and a shared national endeavour Prime Minister Gordon Brown |
"The North Sea has now passed its peak of oil and gas supply - but it will now embark on a new transformation into the global centre of the offshore wind industry. | "The North Sea has now passed its peak of oil and gas supply - but it will now embark on a new transformation into the global centre of the offshore wind industry. |
"And yes, there will have to be more windfarms onshore too." | "And yes, there will have to be more windfarms onshore too." |
'Inevitable' changes | 'Inevitable' changes |
Under the government's plans an extra 4,000 onshore and 3,000 offshore turbines will be needed, impacting on communities, business and the government. | Under the government's plans an extra 4,000 onshore and 3,000 offshore turbines will be needed, impacting on communities, business and the government. |
Ministers say visible changes to landscapes, towns and cities are "inevitable" but in his speech Mr Brown promised local communities wind turbines would be sited in the "right" locations. | Ministers say visible changes to landscapes, towns and cities are "inevitable" but in his speech Mr Brown promised local communities wind turbines would be sited in the "right" locations. |
When the government has failed so lamentably to take a political lead in the last 11 years, why should we believe the coming years will be any different? Steve WebbLib Dem environment | When the government has failed so lamentably to take a political lead in the last 11 years, why should we believe the coming years will be any different? Steve WebbLib Dem environment |
"Increasing our renewable energy sources in these ways, on this scale, will require national purpose and a shared national endeavour. | "Increasing our renewable energy sources in these ways, on this scale, will require national purpose and a shared national endeavour. |
"So today I want to launch a serious national debate about how we are to achieve our targets." | "So today I want to launch a serious national debate about how we are to achieve our targets." |
He promised up to 160,000 new jobs through promoting more renewable energy, including making components for wind turbines and electric cabling. | He promised up to 160,000 new jobs through promoting more renewable energy, including making components for wind turbines and electric cabling. |
'New social organisation' | 'New social organisation' |
But he said a low carbon economy - which met EU reduction targets - "will not emerge from 'business as usual'." | But he said a low carbon economy - which met EU reduction targets - "will not emerge from 'business as usual'." |
"It will require real leadership from government - being prepared to make hard decisions on planning or on tax for example, rather tacking and changing according to the polls. | "It will require real leadership from government - being prepared to make hard decisions on planning or on tax for example, rather tacking and changing according to the polls. |
"It will involve new forms of economic activity and social organisation." | "It will involve new forms of economic activity and social organisation." |
Experts discuss whether wind power is the answer | Experts discuss whether wind power is the answer |
Up to half of the government's carbon reduction target will have to come from electricity, meaning a third will have to be generated from renewables by 2020. | Up to half of the government's carbon reduction target will have to come from electricity, meaning a third will have to be generated from renewables by 2020. |
Moves to speed up the connection of renewable energy projects to the national grid are also expected to be announced to help clear a huge backlog of proposed developments. | Moves to speed up the connection of renewable energy projects to the national grid are also expected to be announced to help clear a huge backlog of proposed developments. |
The UK could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% and reduce its dependency on oil by 7% within 12 years, the government says. | The UK could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% and reduce its dependency on oil by 7% within 12 years, the government says. |
'Fundamental problem' | 'Fundamental problem' |
Household bills are expected to increase as a result of the measures, but any impact is unlikely to be felt until later in the next decade. | Household bills are expected to increase as a result of the measures, but any impact is unlikely to be felt until later in the next decade. |
Greenpeace hailed the new strategy as "visionary", but the environment group warned that ministers had promised much before and had so far failed to deliver. | Greenpeace hailed the new strategy as "visionary", but the environment group warned that ministers had promised much before and had so far failed to deliver. |
The Liberal Democrats poured scorn on Mr Brown's talk of a "green revolution". | The Liberal Democrats poured scorn on Mr Brown's talk of a "green revolution". |
The party's environment spokesman Steve Webb said: "The fundamental problem is that Brown doesn't do 'green'. | The party's environment spokesman Steve Webb said: "The fundamental problem is that Brown doesn't do 'green'. |
"He would rather urge oil producers to extract more oil than invest in technologies that will actually save CO2 emissions now. | "He would rather urge oil producers to extract more oil than invest in technologies that will actually save CO2 emissions now. |
"When the government has failed so lamentably to take a political lead in the last 11 years, why should we believe the coming years will be any different?" | "When the government has failed so lamentably to take a political lead in the last 11 years, why should we believe the coming years will be any different?" |
For the Conservatives, shadow business secretary Alan Duncan said: "After a series of painful and reluctant u-turns, it seems like the government is at last coming round to our vision of a greener Britain. | For the Conservatives, shadow business secretary Alan Duncan said: "After a series of painful and reluctant u-turns, it seems like the government is at last coming round to our vision of a greener Britain. |
"Yet it's astonishing that what is billed as a 'strategy' is just another consultation - more delays after a decade of dithering. | "Yet it's astonishing that what is billed as a 'strategy' is just another consultation - more delays after a decade of dithering. |
"Gordon Brown must now translate these words into action. If we don't grasp this opportunity now, we'll still be playing catch-up in 20 years." | "Gordon Brown must now translate these words into action. If we don't grasp this opportunity now, we'll still be playing catch-up in 20 years." |