Union leader warns that Ed Miliband's net-zero plans may lead to power outages
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The chief of one of Labour's primary unions has tells Sir Keir Starmer to disregard "climate fanatics' illusion" and revisit the current net-zero schedule, as penned in The Times. Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, shares his concerns over the government's promise to shift to clean power by 2030, fearing potential blackouts similar to the ones experienced in Spain and Portugal.
Smith also points out that prohibiting future North Sea oil and gas exploration could lead to a quicker demise of domestic production and thus make the country more dependent on imported gas.
Unions displays rising dissatisfaction towards environmental policies that don't correlate with substantial investments ensuring job availability.
These statements follow an appeal by former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair to "revive" net-zero strategies. Sharon Graham, Unite's General Secretary, expressed the union's stance last month: they're not against net-zero, but they call for serious investments to generate new job opportunities.
"It's high time for Labour to act," Graham stated, claiming that the promised industrial strategy needs to be backed up with substantial investments that truly deliver.
Smith's critique represents the latest attack on energy secretary Ed Miliband, with whom he had previously clashed over the North Sea oil and gas industry's decarbonization.
The union leader calls Spain's recent grid failure a "massive wake-up call" for policymakers, urging them to consider what could happen domestically if not prepared.
Smith continues to argue that the Dutch are increasing gas production amidst increased demand, while the UK government refuses to grant new exploration and production licenses in the North Sea. This would only prompt a faster decline in domestic production, boosting dependency on imported gas. Smith claims this move would result in bill-payers funding a domestic clean energy push that exports jobs and value.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson responds by stating the aim is to make the UK a clean energy powerhouse, securing control over domestic power and defending household finances. They assert the plan will generate jobs in industrial communities.
- The GMB General Secretary, Gary Smith, has urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the current net-zero schedule due to concerns about potential blackouts like those experienced in Spain and Portugal.
- Smith also cautions against prohibiting future North Sea oil and gas exploration, fearing a quicker demise of domestic production and an increase in dependence on imported gas.
- Unions like the GMB and Unite have expressed dissatisfaction towards environmental policies that lack significant investments ensuring job availability.
- Sharon Graham, Unite's General Secretary, previously stated that the union is not against net-zero, but calls for serious investments to create new job opportunities.
- Smith's critique is the latest attack on energy secretary Ed Miliband, with whom he had clashed over the North Sea oil and gas industry's decarbonization.
- Smith views Spain's recent grid failure as a "massive wake-up call" for policymakers, urging them to prepare for potential domestic issues similar to those experienced in Spain and Portugal.
- The Dutch, according to Smith, are increasing gas production amidst increased demand, while the UK government refuses to grant new exploration and production licenses in the North Sea, potentially causing a faster decline in domestic production and increasing reliance on imported gas.
- The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson responded, stating their aim is to make the UK a clean energy powerhouse, securing control over domestic power, defending household finances, and generating jobs in industrial communities.
