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| Lib Dems urge energy independence | Lib Dems urge energy independence |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK could be "energy independent" by 2050 without building any new coal or nuclear power stations, the Liberal Democrats have said. | The UK could be "energy independent" by 2050 without building any new coal or nuclear power stations, the Liberal Democrats have said. |
| Party leader Nick Clegg said the kind of "vision" and "political will" that put a man on the moon is needed for energy security to be assured. | Party leader Nick Clegg said the kind of "vision" and "political will" that put a man on the moon is needed for energy security to be assured. |
| He proposes to force energy companies to spend £9bn on home insulation and help for those in fuel poverty. | He proposes to force energy companies to spend £9bn on home insulation and help for those in fuel poverty. |
| The UK is moving from being a net fuel exporter to a net importer. | The UK is moving from being a net fuel exporter to a net importer. |
| The shift means energy security is currently high on the political agenda. | The shift means energy security is currently high on the political agenda. |
| BBC Political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said: "The war between Russia and Georgia has reinforced fears that Europe could be held to ransom if it becomes too dependent on gas and coal from the East." | BBC Political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said: "The war between Russia and Georgia has reinforced fears that Europe could be held to ransom if it becomes too dependent on gas and coal from the East." |
| 'Complete revolution' | |
| The Lib Dems are opposed to the creation of new nuclear power stations - the policy favoured by the government. | The Lib Dems are opposed to the creation of new nuclear power stations - the policy favoured by the government. |
| Instead, the party wants the UK to be both energy independent and carbon neutral by 2050. | Instead, the party wants the UK to be both energy independent and carbon neutral by 2050. |
| Such a position would mean major investment in renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, biomass and solar power. | Such a position would mean major investment in renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, biomass and solar power. |
| Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to see the creation of a renewables delivery authority - similar to the Olympic Delivery Authority - to make a "complete revolution" in energy supply a reality. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| "We've only just started, I think, making the first tentative steps to see what's possible," he said. | |
| "The thing that I think has gone wrong in this debate is that the government has spooked everyone into thinking that we need nuclear by saying there's going to be a terrible energy gap - the lights are going to go out in the middle of the next decade. | |
| "There's actually no evidence that's the case at all. They've raised the wrong problem in order to push the wrong solution. | |
| "The real problem is that our energy mix is not green enough and we're over dependent on oil and gas from parts of the world that aren't very reliable." | |
| As well as investing in renewable energy, Mr Clegg said Britain must improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock, with better insulation and more widespread use of meters. | |
| The Lib Dems also believe they can persuade Europe to be energy independent as a whole by 2030. | |
| Our correspondent said this might be hard, with countries such as France heavily dependent on nuclear power and no source of uranium within Europe's borders. | Our correspondent said this might be hard, with countries such as France heavily dependent on nuclear power and no source of uranium within Europe's borders. |