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Tory blueprint for green economy Tories plan 'energy revolution'
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives are outlining what they describe as a radical range of measures to turn the UK into a "low-carbon economy". Street plug-points for electric cars, smart meters, and energy efficiency loans for homes are among Tory plans for an "energy revolution".
The party plans to cut the UK's reliance on oil and gas and invest £1bn towards improving power distribution by the National Grid. David Cameron launched plans he said would lower carbon emissions, create jobs and reduce oil and gas imports.
Energy experts have cautiously welcomed the plans but questioned how "workable" the ideas were. He said a £1bn upgrade for the national grid would encourage people to generate their own power and boost renewables.
David Cameron is launching the blueprint with a live webchat. But the Liberal Democrats said the Conservatives could not be trusted to "deliver" on fighting climate change.
'Energy security' Launching what the party calls its green paper on low carbon, Mr Cameron said even those who were not convinced by climate change had to recognise the need for "energy security" - reducing reliance on countries like Russia and the Middle East for oil and gas.
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. Secure energy
They say "decarbonising" the UK will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs, raise skills and improve competitiveness. And he said there was no reason why, if electricity networks were updated to include computer intelligence, people should not be saving money in future.
These jobs and skills, the party argues, will give new hope to people being hit by the recession. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme This would include a "smart grid" and smart meters in homes - which monitor kitchen appliances every second, altering the amount of power that is sent down the line to ensure only the minimum necessary is used.
They also say such a move would help guarantee the UK's energy security. Mr Cameron said it would make it possible to have "the Holy Trinity of big supplies of secure energy, green low-carbon energy and cheap energy", by removing the requirement for the grid to have huge excess capacity in order to meet fluctuating demand.
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 stuff in this paper will help employ people and create jobs David CameronConservatives
There are several proposals, but among the most notable is the significant investment the party would make in the National Grid. The Conservatives say it would also pave the way for large-scale use of renewable energy sources, by introducing "feed in tariffs" - paid by power companies to people who generate power via wind turbines and solar panels.
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 would also make more use of technologies like tidal power and biogas - creating power out of the waste vegetable matter from farms or households.
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. And they say they would introduce a new "national recharging network" to encourage the use of electric cars and hybrid cars.
More would be made of technologies like tidal power and biogas - creating power out of the waste vegetable matter from farms or households. Wind power
Cautious welcome Energy companies would borrow money, underwritten by the government, to fit every home with up to £6,500 of energy efficiency improvements - like insulation.
Mr Cameron told the Guardian the new technology was "the internet for electricity". Householders would then repay the loan over up to 25 years through their fuel bills. The Conservatives say they would still save money because bills would be lower.
"It is the thing that brings our plans all together, that makes it all possible and will deliver a genuinely low-carbon world." The Tories like to posture on climate change when the cameras are pointed their way, but they simply cannot be trusted to deliver Nick CleggLiberal Democrats
The Conservatives are also proposing long-term loans, backed by the government, for householders to spend on making energy efficiencies. And there would be incentives to "vastly expand" offshore wind and marine power, and backing for a network of marine energy parks.
They are also suggesting employers could get carbon credits for their companies by making their employees' homes more energy efficient. "The stuff in this paper will help employ people and create jobs," Mr Cameron said.
Energy experts have given the proposals a cautious welcome, but have questioned how many of the ideas are workable. "It will help cut people's bills as well and transform our lives and give them a higher quality.
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. "I think in this recession we have got to do things that are both good for us now but also good for us in the future."
Others have pointed out that before new technologies can be implemented, there need to be enough people trained to do the jobs. Cost effective
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. Shadow energy secretary Greg Clark, said the proposals were "nothing less than an environmental and energy revolution".
"We support most of their proposals, but as ever good ideas become good policy only when effectively implemented." The proposals were welcomed by energy campaigners. Philip Sellwood, head of the Energy Saving Trust, said they were "absolutely spot on".
"Energy efficiency is by far the most cost effective way to reduce carbon emissions and save people cash," he said.
"If we throw everything at our existing housing stock we can reduce household carbon emissions by 70%."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said the Conservatives appeared to "be taking a leaf out of [US president elect] Obama's book and looking to stimulate the economy by boosting the green industries of the future."
But he said for it to be "fully convincing", Mr Cameron should be clear he would rule out all "dirty" coal fired power stations - including plans for a new plant at Kingsnorth, Kent.
BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said some energy experts had questioned whether such a radical change to the National Grid would work and whether energy efficiency loans were financially viable.
And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "This announcement is like David Cameron riding his bike, but what is important is what is in the car behind him.
"In there we find a Conservative Party that despite all its rhetoric will dodge a vote on Heathrow's third runway; that supports future nuclear power plants; and that's so anti-Europe it fails to understand that the only way to fight climate change is to work together internationally.
"The Tories like to posture on climate change when the cameras are pointed their way, but they simply cannot be trusted to deliver."