RenewableUK, the trade and professional body representing the wind and marine energy industries, has warmly welcomed comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister about the Coalition Government’s strong commitment to the clean energy sector.
Speaking at the Global Business Summit on Energy which opened in London yesterday, Nick Clegg said: “This Coalition Government is unreservedly committed to helping our low carbon sector thrive – no ifs, no buts. We want to support the shift by traditional industry to cleaner sources of energy. When we say that we want green growth, it is a very real aim, driven by very real economic needs.”
Mr Clegg added: “The entire government is working within the parameters of the carbon budget, which sets the pace for decarbonising our economy. And there is no one in government who wants to depart from that. We all want to build on our highest growth sectors to create more jobs. Together we find ourselves at the vanguard of one of the most dynamic, most innovative, most important industries of our time”.
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive, Maf Smith , is one of the speakers at the two-day event, which is being attended by a number of senior industry figures. Mr Smith commented:
“The Deputy Prime Minister’s statement of unequivocal support for the clean energy sector is particularly valuable because he made it clear that it comes from the entire Coalition Government. The industry also welcomes today’s commitment to provide a stable, consistent and predictable environment for investors – it demonstrates the Government’s keen awareness of the challenges we face as we build a new low-carbon economy. Mr Clegg rightly spoke of the sector as a global powerhouse – that powerhouse is transforming the way we generate electricity, creating tens of thousands of jobs, reviving manufacturing and inspiring technological innovation on an Olympian scale”.
Other speakers at the two-day summit include the Business Secretary Vince Cable, the Energy Secretary Ed Davey and the Energy Minister Greg Barker.
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Offshore WIND staff, August 07, 2012; Image: ukti