Crucial six months to stop the lights going out

Britain’s energy policy is entering a crucial phase with decisions over the next few months shaping the country’s ability to meet demand over the next two decades, according to energy minister Malcolm Wicks.

Climate change and the geopolitics of energy supply and demand will be among the big issues of the 21st century and the ability to meet the challenge will be as important to national security as the armed forces, he said yesterday.

“No one wants the lights to be going out in 20 years time. I’m not saying they will. They won’t. But they won’t because of the decisions we will be taking over the rest of the year.”

Among the pressing issues are whether Britain will build a new generation of nuclear power stations. After a judicial review, the government is conducting a five-month consultation on the issue with Mr Wicks insisting it will be a genuine consultation not a cosmetic exercise to satisfy the high court ruling in February.

The Guardian