On 12 May the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government released the first details of its likely energy policy. The details come with the release of a list of points agreed between the parties during their negotiations to form a coalition.

The key points on energy policy are:

  • Nuclear Power: The conservatives will bring forward the national planning statement for ratification by parliament, making new nuclear construction possible. The Liberal Democrat spokesman will speak against the planning statement but Liberal Democrat MPs will abstain from the vote on it, which will not be regarded as an issue of confidence.
  • Electricity: The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity; the maintenance of banded ROCs; the establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters.
  • Coal power: A requirement that new coal-fired power stations must have sufficient CCS to meet a new emissions performance standard. Continuation of the current policy to help fund four CCS demonstration projects.
  • Emissions Trading / Climate Change: Introducing a floor price for carbon and further efforts to encourage EU auctioning of ETS permits for Phase III of the EU ETS (2013-2020). A commitment to reduce central governments carbon emissions by 10% within 12 months.
  • Renewables: The parties have agreed to seek an increase in the target of energy from renewable sources, subject to advice from the Climate Change Committee; mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles; unspecified measures to encourage marine energy and measures to promote a 'huge-increase' in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.

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The original publication date for this article was 13/05/2010.