Read: Labour announces energy plan to ‘to make Britain a clean energy superpower’
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, alongside Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero, and Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sawar has today announced the fourth of the party’s five ‘Missions’ for government - focused on ‘making Britain a clean energy superpower’.
The party says achieving the mission will:
Take up to £1,400 off the average annual household bill, and £53 billion off energy bills for businesses by 2020.
Create one million jobs in ten years.
Deliver energy security in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Provide climate leadership to tackle rising CO2 emissions.
The Labour Leader has also put detail on plans announced last September to establish GB Energy, which aims to be a publicly owned ‘champion’ for clean energy generation, which the party says will be based in Scotland, with a National Wealth Fund to upgrade Scottish ports, making them ready for the deployment of renewables and competitive in the decommissioning market - and in the net-zero industrial cluster at Grangemouth, supporting the linked carbon capture and storage project in the North East of Scotland.
The plan also sets out an ambition to achieve clean power by 2030 and prioritise the rewiring of Britain's infrastructure. Other initiatives include a Warm Homes program and the Local Power Plan. The party also emphasises the importance of rebuilding British industry by establishing a National Wealth Fund and implementing the British Jobs Bonus. The parts also says it will support the transition to net-zero emissions in various sectors, including nature conservation, transport, and finance.
The announcement also includes regional plans for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and different regions of England. Each region has specific job creation targets, investments in renewable clusters and ports, and commitments to upgrade homes and support industries like steel and nuclear power.
The rising cost of energy has been a key driver behind the cost of living crisis - Britain’s biggest challenges. That is why the Purpose Coalition set up the Cost of Living Taskforce last year, which develops recommendations, take practical steps and share best practice on how organisations can support their customers, colleagues and communities at this incredibly difficult and challenging time. In March, former Labour MP Lord Walney launched the Taskforce’s first report, setting out bold recommendations including a large-scale Royal Commission on Energy Security.
The report set out how Purpose Coalition Members are leading on cutting the cost of living for customers, colleagues and communities. From energy organisations such as Calisen and SMS that aim to deliver smarter energy solutions, to Essex County Council that is investing in the South East Energy Hub to help homeowners with insulation. A full copy of the report can be found here. https://www.costoflivingtaskforce.org/report
In launching their Energy Mission, the Labour Party has put energy reform at the centre of the next election campaign. Cutting bills is one of the biggest issues for consumers, and the Mission aims to demonstrate how getting to net-zero can help cut bills. There is still huge amounts of detail needed on aspects of the reforms and about funding, but this plan sets out a blueprint on the approach of the party should they win the next election
Find out more by reading Labour’s briefing at https://labour.org.uk/missions/making-britain-a-clean-energy-superpower/
