Comment on Government response to Climate Change Committee’s 2023 Progress Report - energy and heating

"The Government says that it wants to save people money but it completely fails to acknowledge that its own major error in the last renewable energy auction means the £1bn bill saving that cheap offshore wind could have delivered, was squandered. [3]

"It says it’s focussed on bringing bills down, but its U-turn on warm homes for renters will keep their cost of living higher. While household economics look worse, the government’s homework looks economical with the truth.

There are worrying signs that the Government is more committed to profits for oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea than it is to increasing energy security by putting more insulation into people's homes, building renewables and helping households to move away from gas boilers.

The North Sea is running out whatever your policy on it, so unless we build renewables faster and help many more households insulate their roofs and walls, and shift from gas boilers to electric heat pumps, we will have to import more gas from abroad. One positive is that at least the Government has recognised that 100% hydrogen will play a very limited role in heating our homes."