No danger of mass power cuts, says Miliband
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband today dismissed the prospect of mass power cuts in the UK over the next decade.
The issue was whether power needs were met from "sustainable" sources or traditional carbon fuels, he insisted.
The intervention came after the Government's own new energy adviser warned that green energy was being developed too slowly.
Cambridge University researcher David MacKay, who officially takes up his post next month, said the public was objecting to wind farms and nuclear plants being built near their homes.
This could lead to blackouts by 2016 as older power stations close down, he said.
But Mr Miliband told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "There's no danger of power cuts in the next decade."
He added: "The question is, do we meet out own energy security needs in a high-carbon way or do we do it in with renewable energy?"
Mr Miliband said power stations were shutting, but new ones capable of generating 10 gigawatts - enough to power 10 million homes - were being built.
He said "about 75%" of the population supported wind farms, and construction of the next generation of nuclear plants would begin by the end of 2017.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments