Sunak pledges energy independence law

Rishi Sunak has pledged to legislate to make the UK “entirely” energy independent by 2045 if he wins the race to become prime minister.

The Conservative Environment Foundation published blogs on Wednesday (17 August) by both Sunak and his Tory leadership rival Liz Truss setting out their environmental platforms.

Sunak, who is trailing behind Truss in polls of Conservative members, wrote that he will accelerate investment by making energy independence a statutory goal.

According to the blog, he will lead a “national effort” to increase the UK’s domestic energy supply and cut energy waste.

Sunak would also establish a new Energy Security Task Force, reporting to the prime minister, and a new Department for Energy, both proposals which were recommended to the government by Energy UK on Thursday.

He says he would increase North Sea gas production and domestic gas storage as well as accelerate the roll out of offshore wind, rooftop solar and nuclear generation by reforming regulations and licensing regimes.

The former chancellor of the exchequer said he would “rapidly implement” the government’s recently published Energy Security Strategy, including its headline commitments to build 50 GW of generation capacity from offshore wind by 2030 and 24 GW from nuclear by 2050.

He also pledged to prioritise schemes that improve the energy efficiency of homes with more heat pumps, insulation and double glazing as well as launch an energy advice service for English households .

And Sunak would provide direct support to ensure that those that are most vulnerable receive the help that they need to pay their energy bills.

Foreign secretary Truss’ blog is shorter on detail but vowed to “double down” on the government’s target to cut emissions to net zero by 2050

The former environment secretary pledged that during the suspension of green levies on energy bills she has proposed, her government would conduct a review of its policies to ensure the UK meets its climate commitments in the “most economically efficient way, which does not pile unnecessary costs onto consumers”.

“I know there are enormous opportunities ahead for our country in our drive towards net zero. We are leading the way in the industries of the future, making everything from hydrogen-powered buses to the world’s largest offshore wind farm. These low-carbon industries are growing and I want to see them go from strength to strength, investing in local communities, creating jobs and driving our levelling up agenda,” wrote Truss.