Boris Johnson’s green electricity plan risks “crippling British industry”
4 October 2021
SUGGESTED
In the Media
In the Media
Mark Littlewood writes for The Times
4 October 2021
Economic Theory
Commenting on reports that the Prime Minister is set to announce that all of Britain’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2035, Andy Mayer, Chief Operating Officer at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Unless Boris Johnson has a credible plan for fossil fuel back-up on the days the wind isn’t blowing, this is deeply unwise virtue signalling ahead of COP26.
“The immediate effect will be to increase the impact of the gas crisis, by further undermining investment in the gas generation needed to back-up the wild swings in output from the UK’s wind farms.
“This increases the risk of one cold winter causing a capacity crunch, with black-outs crippling large parts of British industry, and puts the elderly at greater risk of not being able to heat their homes”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715942731
IEA spokespeople are available for interview and further comment.
“Unless Boris Johnson has a credible plan for fossil fuel back-up on the days the wind isn’t blowing, this is deeply unwise virtue signalling ahead of COP26.
“The immediate effect will be to increase the impact of the gas crisis, by further undermining investment in the gas generation needed to back-up the wild swings in output from the UK’s wind farms.
“This increases the risk of one cold winter causing a capacity crunch, with black-outs crippling large parts of British industry, and puts the elderly at greater risk of not being able to heat their homes”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715942731
IEA spokespeople are available for interview and further comment.
SHARE
