A Green Approach to the Green Energy Transition

Coming out of the hottest summer on record, it is becoming increasingly clear to ordinary people that climate change cannot be ignored. As the autumn heads into winter, while the heat feels less imposing, the impact of the climate crisis is quickly felt upon opening an energy bill. While oil and gas companies rake in billions in profits, energy bills have increased to their highest level in three years, just in time for the upcoming colder months.

While the importance of climate action cannot be understated as an environmental duty, a Green approach would be to protect both people and planet. Our eye watering energy bills are a direct result of our exposure to volatile global gas markets; producing our own, renewable energy would make us far less reliant on foreign energy and reduce this exposure. Continuing to ignore the climate crisis and failing to invest in renewable power is ultimately detrimental to the public. The solution is clear, to improve our long term energy security, investment in renewals is essential.

Solar and wind are the cheapest ways to produce energy. In particular, solar energy can be easily generated by most households. Subsidising the cost of solar panels and installation would increase the production of solar energy and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. On a larger scale, we should approach the deployment with people and environment at the centre of everything we do; instead of filling empty green spaces with solar panels, can existing buildings be used, such as flat blocks and warehouses? Can solar canopies be created to create shaded areas in playgrounds and car parks? How can we make the transition a positive one for our communities?

Any investment in solar must come with the necessary grid upgrades including improved battery capacity in order to balance the supply and demand. This will allow energy needs to be met regardless of what the weather looks like outside and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels in the darker months.

Protecting the workers and communities that currently depend on the oil and gas industries from its decline must also be a priority. It is vital that any Green solution to the transition includes up-skilling industry workers so they can move into new roles in the renewable sector. With the current underinvestment and lack of planning, we will continue to see jobs in the oil and gas workforce be lost without replacement as the remaining natural resources are drained. While the transition to green energy sources won’t be immediate, the Green Party would take steps to bring bills down in other ways. For example, by installing insulation in millions of homes. Investiging in a home insulation programme would help bill payers save money, but also would reduce energy usage thereby producing fewer harmful carbon emissions. Furthermore, fully decoupling the price of gas from electricity is crucial. Bill payers should be able to see the benefits of clean and renewable energy, and using green electricity should be incentivised, not taxed. By investing in the transition to renewable energy, insulating millions of homes and decoupling the price of gas from electricity, energy bills could be brought down for good.