Government’s Powering Up Britain plan is a paring down of ambition

Prospect has responded to the launch of the ‘Powering Up Britain’ plan, aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and lowering energy costs by investing in renewable energy and nuclear.

Responding to the plan, Sue Ferns, Prospect’s Senior Deputy General Sectretary, said:

“This ‘Powering Up’ plan is a paring down of ambition.

“The long overdue launch of Great British Nuclear is welcome, but needs to be backed by proper funding for a nuclear new-build programme that invests in gigawatt-scale plants alongside small modular reactors (SMRs) to be a success. Without it, this launch is just a recycling of old announcements.

“Ministers are allowing the UK to fall behind in the global race for green jobs and industries. They are doing too little to address the race to the bottom on costs in the offshore wind industry that is putting clean energy projects at risk.

“We are also yet to see a comprehensive strategy for decarbonising the power sector by 2035, which depends on rapidly accelerating investment in our energy networks.”