Britain’s New Power Game

The Times can reveal that the Government wants to sidestep climate change targets in an effort to stem soaring electricity prices. In an exclusive interview, Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, said that he wanted to introduce a loophole which would allow new fossil fuel plants to be built. Mr Davey argues that consumers could be spared the cost of subsidising new wind farms and nuclear reactors by building new gas plants, which would be offset by other parts of the economy, such as transport, going green more cheaply. But the idea will anger environmental groups, who warn that it will undermine green targets and deter investment in low carbon energy generation. --Tim Webb, The Times, 12 October 2012