Cause for pause?

In a surprise move, the renewable energy industry has called on the government to defer the publication of the Energy White Paper, so that it can fully reflect the new energy commitments sealed at last month’s EU summit.

In a letter to DTI Secretary of State Alistair Darling, the Renewable Energy Association said that an Energy White Paper that does not reflect the new targets would ‘compromise the future investment needed to achieve the Government’s energy objectives’.

'Our government had the vision to push these ambitious energy targets through the European Union', said REA Chief Executive Philip Wolfe. 'But they just haven’t had time since then to credibly define the measures needed to meet them'.

The Energy White Paper is due for publication within the next month.

In addition to emissions reductions, the new European targets include 2020 commitments for a 20% reduction in energy consumption and increased contributions from renewables to 20% of total energy and 10% of transport fuels.