Ask Ed Miliband to support renewable energy

We need to revolutionise the way we power the UK.

Energy from the sun, wind, tides and waves can generate a clean and long lasting energy supply.

Join the energy revolution

Right now the Government is discussing a European agreement on renewable energy - known as the Renewables Directive.

Renewable energy can can help to tackle the three problems of:

Spiralling energy bills.
Increased dependence on imported fuels.
Dangerous climate change.

This Directive would commit the UK to getting 15% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Did you know?
Achieving 15% renewable energy needs a roughly ten-fold increase between now and 2020.

Draft Renewable Energy Directive

The revolution needs you

The Government is now trying to wriggle out of its commitments. It's pushing for compromises which could weaken the Directive including:

Ignoring aviation
Not counting all energy consumption.
A major review in 2014
Undermining investor confidence.

It's important that the use of biofuels within the Directive is reviewed in 2014. But this review should not be extended to other aspects of the Directive.

This would create huge uncertainty about the future market. It would damage investor confidence right from the start.

By contrast, a strong EU law would kick-start a thriving home-grown renewable energy industry.

Take action

We can revolutionise the way we power the UK. We have the know-how and some of the biggest renewable energy potential in Europe.

All we need is our Government to deliver on its promises.

Join the energy revolution

Dear Mr Miliband,

I am writing to express my support for renewable energy and request that, as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, you support a strong Renewable Energy Directive. Whereas the UK once relied on its abundant resources of North Sea oil and gas, the time has now come for the UK to rely on its abundant resources of wind, marine, solar and geothermal energy and call for a strong legal framework at EU level in order to spur investment. At present only around 7% of the EU's energy comes from renewable sources, with a lamentable 2% in the UK. The new Renewable Energy Directive could give a strong impetus to the renewables industry, delivering jobs, energy security and essential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and UK leadership in some emerging technologies. The detail is of course important. Given the concerns over the use of biofuels and the developing technologies it will be very necessary to review their use in a few years' time. But this review should not be used as an excuse to call into question all other elements of the Directive. I urge you to reject a major review in 2014 because this would create uncertainty about future commitment and would be very damaging to investor confidence. I am also concerned that the proposal to ignore energy consumption by the growing aviation industry is evidence of weak resolve. It appears a desperate effort to reduce the level of ambition needed and allows this sector to expand without any corresponding pressure to increase our renewable energy supplies in those sectors where it is feasible. We need an energy revolution. Fifteen per cent home-grown renewable energy will be an important start and I hope you will put your full support behind this goal.

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