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Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey wrote to the Commons select committee on Energy and Climate Change to try to reassure members that the government's energy policy is on track, it has emerged.
In a letter sent in March and published today, Davey insisted that although he “recognise[d] that there are potential tensions between these goals” of energy security and climate change, he was “absolutely committed” to achieving both.
In its February letter raising concerns, the committee complained that the government “has not acknowledged the tensions” between the two aims and said the government response “could be interpreted as prioritising energy security”.
The committee also raised fears that the planned Emissions Performance Standard could prompt a “dash for gas”, “which could lock carbon into the UK economy”, and said government signals of gas storage were “inconsistent”. It expressed “dismay” at the lack of progress on carbon capture and storage.
In his letter, Davey insisted that the range of measures being proposed would bring a range of supplies online, and claimed that the “marginal operating cost for nuclear and renewable generating plant will be significantly below that of gas”. He said that rather than a dash for gas, the planned capacity market was required to bring new plants forward.
He denied the government was “complacent” over the framework for gas storage, saying that regulator Ofgem had been asked to consider how to improve security of supply for gas.
The select committee’s letter.
The secretary of state’s response.
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