By News on the Net -- NET ZERO WATCH —— Bio and Archives June 14, 2023
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London--Net Zero Watch has welcomed the Government’s apparent U-turn on plans for a new levy on household bills.
The levy, introduced as part of the drive to “Net Zero”, was designed to fund the development of hydrogen as an alternative to gas heating. However, it would have hit households with a bill estimated at £120 per year.
According to press reports, the Energy Secretary has now admitted hydrogen will never replace gas boilers, and it appears that the levy will now be dropped.
For months, Net Zero Watch has been informing ministers and MPs
about the radical shift in public opinion in much of Europe in response
to the cost of energy and cost of living crises.
Governments
around Europe are beginning to water down and abandon Net Zero
policies. There can be little doubt that the Net Zero U-turns by both
Labour and the Conservatives are a clear indication that the cost of
living and the costs of Net Zero crisis will become one of the key
election issues.
Craig Mackinlay MP, chairman of the parliamentary Net Zero Scrutiny Group, said:
"The
cancellation of the proposed £118 Hydrogen Tax on household energy
bills is hugely welcome and I hope is the start of a common sense
journey for the government on energy policy. When the laudable ambition
of Net Zero hits the reality of cost and significant changes to the way
we live, the public are understandably turned off as they look at low
uptake of the ‘plan’ globally and their ongoing growth on the back of
cheap traditional energy.
History is littered with
failed and costly government projects. I forecast that many of the
wasteful Net Zero plans based on unreliable, fringe technologies will be
historically judged in the same way.”
Additional information
Fact sheet: The cost of green levies (pdf)
Contact
Net Zero Watch
e: info@netzerowatch.com
Craig Mackinlay MP
e: craig.mackinlay.mp@parliament.uk
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