Conservatives launch Plan for Low Carbon Economy

Conservatives today publish their Plan for a Low Carbon Economy which sets out the policies that will be required to strengthen our economy, help guarantee our energy security and protect our environment for future generations.

The changes we are proposing to the green economy are similar in scale to the advent of the internet and the revolution in computing power that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. We believe that a revolution in our energy sector could create hundreds of thousands of new green collar jobs in the UK by 2020. If we do not make these changes soon other countries could take these valuable, skilled jobs.

Key policies set out in the plan include:

An electricity internet. We will bring our electricity grid out of the 1950s and 60s by adding computing intelligence through the introduction of a smart grid and the use of smart meters in people's homes, allowing demand and supply to be intelligently managed and paving the way for large-scale use of renewable energy sources; we will create a decentralised energy revolution by introducing a system of ‘feed in tariffs' for electricity generation and we will establish a new national recharging network, enabling Britain to lead the world in replacing traditional cars with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

New low carbon energy sources. We will create a new national recharging network, enabling Britain to lead the world in electric and plug-in hybrid cars; enable biogas, methane produced from farm and food wastes, to replace up to 50% of our residential gas heating; and provide government backing for a new network of Marine Energy Parks.

Low carbon buildings, transport and commerce. We will introduce a new entitlement for every home to be fitted with up to £6,500 of energy efficiency improvements, with the cost being repaid through fuel bills, delivering immediate reductions in gas and electricity bills; we will ensure that every gas and electricity bill contains energy use comparison information; and we will immediately start work on establishing a new high speed rail network linking cities in the North and South, boosting economic regeneration and jobs. We estimate that our plans would deliver savings on energy bills of around £160 per year for families across the country.

Commenting on the plans, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Clark, said: "What we are proposing today is nothing less than an environmental and energy revolution, which would make Britain a world leader in moves towards creating a low carbon economy. It is a plan that will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs, raise skills and improve Britain's competitiveness.

"No longer will we need to be overly dependent on imported fossil fuels from unstable countries. Instead our electricity and heating will come from a wider range of more dependable and renewable sources, which will encourage innovative energy sources to be developed. This will help guarantee our energy security, reduce our carbon emissions and do all we can to protect the future.

"We will offer real help for families struggling to make ends meet during Labour's recession. A Conservative Government would also enable every household to have up to £6,500 worth of insulation fitted in their house, at no upfront cost, which would mean instant reductions in energy bills and would dramatically cut the carbon footprint of every home in Britain."