The Guardian said that the leaked secret submission to the European Commission called for the current renewable energy target to be scrapped when its current phase – requiring member states to generate 20% of energy from renewables – runs out in 2020.
"The UK envisages multiple low-carbon technologies: renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage, all competing freely against each other in the years to come … For this reason, we cannot support a 2030 renewables target," it reads.
However, today, Edward Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, reacted strongly to the article, sending a letter to the Guardian newspaper saying that the article was “misleading”.
“Contrary to your misleading headline, the UK is 100% committed to the 2020 EU renewable energy target and we’ve set out in our renewable energy roadmap the programme of action in place to drive delivery up and costs down,” said Davey.
“At issue is what new EU targets should be put in place for 2030. The UK is one of a number of countries who believe any new targets should be technology neutral, leaving Member States free to determine the most cost effective energy mix to get the best deal for consumers. Our communication to the Commission explicitly states that the UK is not in any way ‘against renewables’. Far from it – renewables will play a key role in the future UK energy mix, helping to reduce import dependency and meet our carbon targets,” he said
Davey finished by saying that “the consumer will be best served in the long term through all low carbon energy technologies competing freely to meet our energy needs and emission reduction targets”.
The article was subsequently amended by the Guardian to take into account Mr. Davey's comments.
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