The
Treasury has confirmed it
will accept 81 of the 89 recommendations put forward by the Conservative peer in the
No Stone Unturned report he authored last year, which set out a strategy to accelerate infrastructure investment as a means of restoring growth to the UK economy.
The report urged the government to set out a "definitive and unambiguous energy policy, including the supporting financial regime, to give the sector the certainty to invest". He praised the government's plans for a fleet of offshore wind farms and welcomed proposals to tap tidal energy from the Severn, arguing the project would provide "the possibility of both a long-term source of energy and extraordinary economic regeneration".
The
Heseltine plan was welcomed by companies across the
green energy sector, which have been calling for greater policy consistency so they can capitalise on the opportunities offered by green energy infrastructure.
A recent survey by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) revealed that in general the UK renewables industry is
concerned about UK energy policy and like us is asking for simple clear support.
Commenting on the results, REA chief executive, Gaynor Hartnell said:
“The UK has to achieve a higher growth rate than any other Member State in order to reach its 2020 renewables target. Mixed messages remain a problem and industry needs policy certainty and political consistency. The prize is up to 400,000 jobs by 2020, economic growth and greatly improved energy security.”