The UK Government has been told to stop framing renewables and North Sea oil and gas as competing priorities after Energy Secretary Ed Miliband doubled down on his opposition to new North Sea drilling licences.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Miliband warned that abandoning renewable energy would be “a dangerous and reckless strategy” amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Despite acknowledging the UK “benefits from strong and diverse energy supplies, including the North Sea”, the Energy Secretary maintained the Government’s position that no new oil and gas licences should be issued.
The comments come as conflict in the Middle East threatens global energy supplies and pushes up wholesale prices.
He said: “I warned the House that people can have incredibly short memories, given that we’re just four years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
Mr Miliband added: “I warned at the time it was a foolish and dangerous gamble to bet on geopolitical stability at a time of greater geopolitical instability than at any time for generations.
“I warned the Opposition failed to learn the lessons from the Ukraine crisis, which caused the worst cost-of-living crisis in memory, and I warned that a dogma of opposing clean energy would damage this country and risk families and businesses being left to pick up the bill.
“The events of recent days have unfortunately shown why this would be such a dangerous and reckless strategy and we will continue to reject it.”
Responding, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce said the debate should not be framed as a choice between renewables and domestic oil and gas production.
Writing on LinkedIn, Ryan Crighton, policy director at the chamber, said: “These remarks from our Energy Secretary are intensely frustrating. Nobody in the business community - let alone the energy sector - is suggesting abandoning renewables in favour of more North Sea production.
“If fact, quite the opposite is true. Everyone is aligned on the need for an ALL energy approach. We should be powering up every part of our energy sector in unprecedented times.
“In moments like these, we need serious leadership. Pitting oil and gas against renewables serves nobody.”