Government promises tenfold increase in renewables

The UK Government has announced that the UK’s renewable energy production will increase tenfold by 2020.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary John Hutton launched the plans yesterday on London’s South Bank.

The tenfold increase is necessary if the UK is to hit European Union renewable energy targets.

Brown also highlighted the other benefits, including cutting back on carbon emissions, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal.

£100 billion industry investment is required to achieve the plans, which include building 7,000 wind turbines in the countryside and along the coast. 160,000 green collar jobs will be created as a result of the required investment.

Furthermore, local communities will be encouraged to set up small co-operatives that produce, use and sell electricity.

More controversially, the government will push through plans for new nuclear power stations.

Energy Minister John Hutton said that the plans open a ‘new chapter’ in the UK’s history.

Despite the government’s optimism, environmental campaigners remain sceptical.

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven has warned that the targets are unlikely to be achieved without ‘real government action.’