The new appointment is in-line with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s preferred approach of appointing experts to key posts in the cabinet. The new entity will co-ordinate action across the government to deliver its target of decarbonised power system by 2030.
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Mission Control will be a “one-stop-shop” to assemble a team of industry experts aiming to “troubleshoot, negotiate and clear the way for energy projects”. It will work with energy companies and other entities, including Ofgem, National Grid and the Electricity System Operator (ESO), addressing and resolving challenges as they appear.
“Years of underinvestment has left our country suffering energy insecurity, with working people paying the price through their energy bills and a cost-of-living crisis” said Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband. “That cannot happen again. This new Mission Control centre, benefitting from the expertise and experience of Chris Stark's leadership - and bringing together the brightest and best in the national interest - will have a laser-like focus on delivering our mission of clean power by 2030.”
Some experts argue that addressing planning barriers and grid connection delays will make it possible to cut emissions from the power network by 2030, while others warn that doing this so quickly will increase costs and produce bottlenecks in supply chains. However, Mr Miliband believes that the plan will help to reduce power bills by reducing gas imports while also creating thousands of clean energy jobs. It will also reduce Britain’s dependence on countries ruled by dictators such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
“Tackling the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to clean power is the country’s biggest challenge, and its greatest opportunity” added Mr Stark. “By taking action now, we can put the UK at the forefront of the global race to net zero.”
Mr Stark led the CCC for six years until earlier this year. He also served as director of energy and climate change in the Scottish government between 2016 and 2018.
During his time at the CCC, he regularly clashed with Conservative ministers, accusing the government upon his departure of turning net zero into a political slogan and using it to start a ‘culture war’ over the climate. However, his recommendation of a UK net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is now part of UK law.
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