I’m very pleased to back new measures announced this week to ramp up the government’s clean energy mission and protect families in Luton South and South Bedfordshire from shocks on the global stage.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced a number of new policies to go further in delivering clean, homegrown energy we can control. These plans will ensure long term energy security for Britain and help cut the cost of living for working people – safeguarding them from the consequences of conflicts abroad, such as the war in Iran.
New measures will include making it easier for renters, those who live in flats, or those without a drive to install EV chargers, solar panels and heat pumps, giving more people the opportunity to take advantage of cheaper, cleaner energy.
The plans will also see a massive expansion of solar panels and wind turbines across the public estate, including on brownfield and industrial sites or railways, as well as a huge overhaul of planning to speed up connecting new projects to the grid and upgrading existing renewables.
Alongside this, the Chancellor has announced plans to break the link between gas and electricity prices, which unfairly drives up costs even though a significant share of Britain’s electricity now comes from renewables and nuclear. To shield families from the impact of future crises, the government is expanding long-term fixed contracts and increasing the Electricity Generator Levy. This will ensure that an increased proportion of the money generated when gas prices spike is available to government to support businesses and households.
This action on clean energy comes alongside a number of new measures which came into force this month to support families, including an average saving of £117 on energy bills, record rises in both the National Minimum and Living Wage, a £575 boost for millions of pensioners, and the removal of the two-child benefit cap- helping to raise the living standards of over £5,000 children in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
This Labour Government is on your side, stepping in when times are tough. Whether that is immediate solutions like taking money off energy bills and freezing rail fares, or making the long-term decisions that will bring costs down for good, we are determined to put more money back in your pocket.
I am proud to support these new policies that will drive our clean energy mission forward and protect family budgets for years to come.