The Labour Party has challenged Prime Minister Liz Truss to reverse plans to block the development of new solar projects.
Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary, will visit a solar farm to set out his opposition to Liz Truss’ plans to block new solar projects and has highlighted Labour’s pledge to triple the size of the UK solar industry in its first term as part of making Britain a “clean energy superpower” by 2030.
Labour said blocking solar “would rob the UK” of potential for cheap power that could bring down bills for households, which was a quarter of the price of gas before the Ukraine crisis.
“Destroying the solar industry would make the UK energy even more insecure, increasing our reliance on imported gas from Russia and other fossil fuel exporting countries.
“Each 5GW of additional solar would cut UK gas imports by 2%.
“Solar power could supply 17% of the UK’s annual electricity needs by 2035, supporting 60,000 jobs,” Labour stated.
Labour’s plans to expand solar power and block fracking are part of Keir Starmer’s commitment to make the UK a “world-leading clean energy superpower by 2030”.
The plan also includes Labour’s commitment to create GB Energy, a publicly owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an “energy independent superpower”.
Miliband said: “”And if Liz Truss blocks solar wind she will be declaring unilateral energy disarmament, undermining our energy security and forcing the British people to accept decades of higher energy bills.
“Only Labour can deliver lower energy bills and energy security for the UK, with our plans for clean power by 2030 – including trebling solar power – and GB Energy, a publicly owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an energy independent superpower.”