Mistaken dash for gas

The new Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, warns that George Osborne’s plans to burn more gas will cost £23bn per year more than the current system. An open letter to the government from its own independent advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change (led by Conservative Peer Lord Deben), criticised the Government’s: ‘ambivalent position… about whether it is trying to build a low-carbon or a gas-based power system. The letter featured evidence from energy research consultants Redpoint Energy which showed that gas burning would be a far more expensive option, and warned, ‘Plans which would increase energy bills would force people to choose between buying food and paying to heat their homes properly.’
Redpoint suggests Mr Osborne’s model would produce 90g more carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour of energy than the decarbonised alternative of using sustainable sources. It will force the UK to break laws set by its own Climate Change Act, requiring carbon emissions to be cut by 80 per cent by 2050. Redpoint’s research says this can be achieved if the system is decarbonised, but is impossible if energy production relies on more gas burning. Turning to sustainable energy sources, on the other hand, would save the UK £1.3bn per year.
Natalie Bennett described the Chancellor’s gas proposal as ‘Utterly wrong.’