Miliband calls for 'clean energy trinity'

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Ed Miliband, the UK secretary of state for energy and climate change, has called for a "clean energy trinity" of clean coal, nuclear and renewables to tackle climate change.

Miliband addresses the TUC

Speaking at the annual Trade Union Congress, Miliband told delegates that climate change has to be at the heart of economic policy, energy policy and transport policy.

He said a global move to a low carbon future would mean more jobs in the nuclear industry, that the challenge of climate change was too big to reject nuclear and that the government would press ahead with plans for new nuclear power. According to Miliband, "'Nuclear power no thanks' today means 'climate change no doubt' tomorrow."

 

The minister also said that there would be no solution to climate change without a solution to coal, which was "plentiful, flexible and cheap, but the most polluting fuel." The UK government proposed to raise billions of pounds to invest in up to four full commercial-scale carbon capture and storage projects that could remove up to 90% of greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired generation.

 

Miliband also announced new funds for wind turbine manufacturer Clipper, who announced a new factory in the north east of England to build off-shore wind turbine blades. Success for Clipper's off-shore blades contrasted with job losses at Vesta's onshore wind turbine factory in the Isle of Wight. Miliband blamed this closure on opposition to on-shore wind turbines that restricted orders. Miliband said that "in coal, in nuclear, in wind, there will be people who say no to the low carbon transition. It's our job to say that for the environment and for prosperity we need these energy projects."