“It’s time for a green energy sprint for energy security, sovereignty and to lower bills” says Cat as Labour unveils it’s five-point energy security plan.

Today, Labour has called for an urgent “national sprint” to build a clean, green, secure energy future that will improve the UK’s energy sovereignty and cut energy bills for working people.

In the wake of sky-rocketing global gas prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Labour today calls on the Government to ramp up ambition on home-grown renewable and nuclear energy, as well as calling for a national home insulation programme to cut bills and cut gas imports.

“The Government’s decade of failure on renewables, on nuclear, and on energy efficiency has left the UK vulnerable during this crisis,” said Cat.

“From home energy efficiency to onshore and offshore wind, hydrogen and tidal to solar and nuclear power, it is time to turbocharge the shift to green energy. This is the safest, quickest route to national energy security. In doing so, we can create good jobs and a vibrant economic future for the whole nation.”

Labour’s plan to improve the energy efficiency of 19 million homes over a decade would cut UK gas imports by 15% and save up to £400 off the average energy bill for families.

Investing in clean power and energy efficiency will support good jobs in every region of the UK, crowding in investment to boost British businesses and enhance domestic supply chains.

“The government is always looking over its shoulder at its climate sceptics and this has hampered the drive towards green power. In 2015 they effectively banned onshore wind, the cheapest fuel available, which has meant we lost more home-grown power than the total sum of all Russian imports in the time since. I also remain absolutely opposed to fracking. The answer to a fossil fuel crisis is not to double down on fossil fuels with a dangerous lurch towards fracking.”

To help ease the immediate hit of the energy crisis, Labour proposed, back in January, to use a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers to cut household energy costs by up to £600, including through removing VAT from energy bills.

“Energy security is national security. Homegrown, clean power is the cheaper, more secure route to energy security and sovereignty. We can make ourselves safer and more secure and keep bills lower with a green sprint, including a plan to insulate millions of homes. The Conservatives’ decade of failure on renewables, nuclear, and energy efficiency has left us vulnerable to the global fossil fuel market. The Government said they were ‘cutting the green crap’ but it was a disaster- with bills for working families £2.5bn higher as a result.

“Business as usual, or false solutions such as fracking will not bring down bills or achieve security. Only Labour can deliver the national energy security plan we need to cut bills, safeguard our energy supply, and provide security for future generations by tackling the climate crisis.”

 Labour’s Five-Point Plan for Energy Security:

1. An energy efficiency revolution to insulate 19 million homes in a decade, cut gas imports by 15% and cut bills by up to £400.
2. Double our onshore wind capacity to 30GW by 2030, to power an extra 10 million homes^[1]
3. Increase offshore wind capacity to at least 75GW by 2035.
4. Triple solar power by 2030, back tidal power and further investment in hydrogen.
5. End the delay on nuclear power, confirming Sizewell C and backing SMRs.

Labour’s plan will:

• Drive down energy bills for working people;
• Deliver energy security and sovereignty for the UK
• Support good jobs in every region of the country;
• Power our future by tackling the climate emergency.