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Lib Dems urge energy independence Clegg unveils green energy vision
(about 1 hour later)
The UK could be "energy independent" by 2050 without building any new coal or nuclear power stations, the Liberal Democrats have said. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is to unveil plans to make Britain an exporter of renewable energy by 2050.
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 is calling for a programme on the scale of the Apollo moon mission to end the UK's increasing dependence on foreign coal, gas and oil.
He proposes to force energy companies to spend £9bn on home insulation and help for those in fuel poverty. But instead of the government's preferred option of nuclear energy Mr Clegg says it can be achieved through wave, wind, biomasss and solar power.
The UK is moving from being a net fuel exporter to a net importer. He will set out the details later on a visit to an offshore windfarm.
The shift means energy security is currently high on the political agenda. Energy security is high on the political agenda as Britain moves from being a net fuel exporter to a net importer.
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." The war between Russia and Georgia has also reinforced fears Europe could be held to ransom if it becomes too dependent on gas and coal from the East.
'Complete revolution''Complete revolution'
The Lib Dems are opposed to the creation of new nuclear power stations - the policy favoured by the government. The government wants to build a new generation of nuclear power stations - but the Lib Dems say the cash should be spent on renewable sources of energy instead.
Instead, the party wants the UK to be both energy independent and carbon neutral by 2050. He would also force energy companies to spend £9bn on insulating homes and helping the poor meet their bills.
Such a position would mean major investment in renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, biomass and solar power. The party wants the UK to be both energy independent and carbon neutral by 2050.
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 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 More from Today programme
"We've only just started, I think, making the first tentative steps to see what's possible," he said."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."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."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.""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.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.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. Mr Clegg is later touring a Centrica windfarm off the coast of Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, to unveil his party's vision for guaranteeing future energy supplies.