Blog: How the Government can really put its money where its green mouth is

How generous. The Cabinet Office is going to “diversify” 2% of its energy by using renewables. Yes, be thankful folks who work in the green economy, that means £25million worth […]

How generous. The Cabinet Office is going to “diversify” 2% of its energy by using renewables. Yes, be thankful folks who work in the green economy, that means £25million worth of energy supply is up for grabs.

Given that the Government is the largest single energy buyer in the country – spending a stonking £1.5billion on the stuff, that really does seem like a drop in the ocean.

And given that the Government wishes the rest of the country to be using a much larger percentage of renewable energy – 20%- by 2020 and by wish of course I mean demands by law, doesn’t this self-righteous proclamation from Francis Maude seem the tiniest bit patronising? A bit self-congratulatory?

Oh look at us, we’re doing you wind turbine erectors a great big favour! Look at us, business community, we’re getting LOADS of our energy from those trendy solar panels, why aren’t you?

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude even has the grand notion he’s going to bring down the price of green for everyone by creating more competition for it. Oh really? So why weren’t you doing this already?

Francis, can I say something, would you mind awfully?

Thing is, it’s only a pilot scheme mate.

Well here’s a suggestion – or perhaps I mean a demand here too. Why don’t you get 20% of your energy in buildings around the UK from a “diverse” energy mix?

Then you’d really be putting your money where your mouth is.

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