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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tory blueprint for green economy | Tory blueprint for green economy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives are outlining what they describe as a radical range of measures to turn the UK into a "low-carbon economy". | |
| The party plans to cut the UK's reliance on oil and gas and invest £1bn towards improving power distribution by the National Grid. | The party plans to cut the UK's reliance on oil and gas and invest £1bn towards improving power distribution by the National Grid. |
| Energy experts have cautiously welcomed the plans but questioned how "workable" the ideas were. | Energy experts have cautiously welcomed the plans but questioned how "workable" the ideas were. |
| David Cameron is launching the blueprint with a live webchat. | |
| 'Energy security' | 'Energy security' |
| The Tories want to turn the UK into a pioneer of green innovation and technology and say their proposals will make British homes and businesses dramatically more energy efficient. | The Tories want to turn the UK into a pioneer of green innovation and technology and say their proposals will make British homes and businesses dramatically more energy efficient. |
| They say "decarbonising" the UK will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs, raise skills and improve competitiveness. | They say "decarbonising" the UK will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs, raise skills and improve competitiveness. |
| These jobs and skills, the party argues, will give new hope to people being hit by the recession. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | These jobs and skills, the party argues, will give new hope to people being hit by the recession. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| They also say such a move would help guarantee the UK's energy security. | They also say such a move would help guarantee the UK's energy security. |
| The Tories claims that if we continue to rely on imported fossil fuels from Russia, North Africa and the Middle East, then businesses and households will be increasingly at risk of losing their energy supply or paying wildly fluctuating prices. | The Tories claims that if we continue to rely on imported fossil fuels from Russia, North Africa and the Middle East, then businesses and households will be increasingly at risk of losing their energy supply or paying wildly fluctuating prices. |
| There are several proposals, but among the most notable is the significant investment the party would make in the National Grid. | There are several proposals, but among the most notable is the significant investment the party would make in the National Grid. |
| They say the way we distribute energy around the system at the moment is very outdated, and technology is available that would make far more efficient use of the power we produce. | They say the way we distribute energy around the system at the moment is very outdated, and technology is available that would make far more efficient use of the power we produce. |
| These include "smart" systems, that would monitor kitchen appliances second by second, altering the amount of power that is sent down the line to ensure only the minimum necessary is used. | These include "smart" systems, that would monitor kitchen appliances second by second, altering the amount of power that is sent down the line to ensure only the minimum necessary is used. |
| More would be made of technologies like tidal power and biogas - creating power out of the waste vegetable matter from farms or households. | More would be made of technologies like tidal power and biogas - creating power out of the waste vegetable matter from farms or households. |
| Cautious welcome | Cautious welcome |
| Mr Cameron told the Guardian the new technology was "the internet for electricity". | Mr Cameron told the Guardian the new technology was "the internet for electricity". |
| "It is the thing that brings our plans all together, that makes it all possible and will deliver a genuinely low-carbon world." | "It is the thing that brings our plans all together, that makes it all possible and will deliver a genuinely low-carbon world." |
| The Conservatives are also proposing long-term loans, backed by the government, for householders to spend on making energy efficiencies. | The Conservatives are also proposing long-term loans, backed by the government, for householders to spend on making energy efficiencies. |
| They are also suggesting employers could get carbon credits for their companies by making their employees' homes more energy efficient. | They are also suggesting employers could get carbon credits for their companies by making their employees' homes more energy efficient. |
| Energy experts have given the proposals a cautious welcome, but have questioned how many of the ideas are workable. | Energy experts have given the proposals a cautious welcome, but have questioned how many of the ideas are workable. |
| One was doubtful that such a radical change to the National Grid would work, and wondered how financially viable it would be to give every household a long-term loan for energy efficiency measures, particularly in the current situation. | One was doubtful that such a radical change to the National Grid would work, and wondered how financially viable it would be to give every household a long-term loan for energy efficiency measures, particularly in the current situation. |
| Others have pointed out that before new technologies can be implemented, there need to be enough people trained to do the jobs. | Others have pointed out that before new technologies can be implemented, there need to be enough people trained to do the jobs. |
| Philip Wolfe, director general of the Renewable Energy Association, said: "This report rightly highlights the need for quantum change and positive benefits this would bring to the UK economy. | Philip Wolfe, director general of the Renewable Energy Association, said: "This report rightly highlights the need for quantum change and positive benefits this would bring to the UK economy. |
| "We support most of their proposals, but as ever good ideas become good policy only when effectively implemented." | "We support most of their proposals, but as ever good ideas become good policy only when effectively implemented." |