Lib Dem MP Robert Smith is taking over from Tim Yeo as chair of parliament’s energy and climate change committee (ECCC) while the Tory backbencher deals with allegations about lobbying which he strongly denies. Sir Robert Smith was backed for the role of interim Chair unanimously by MPs on the cross-party committee yesterday. In a statement, the […]

Conservative MP Tim Yeo is temporarily resigning as chair of Parliament’s energy committee following allegations he was willing to take cash in exchange for his influence in government. In a sting by two undercover reporters from The Sunday Times posing as employees of a solar firm, it is claimed Yeo said he could use his […]

Conservative MP Tim Yeo has dismissed allegations he had coached the managing director of a company before the businessman appeared in front of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee which he chairs. He denied the claims made by the Sunday Times that he used his position to help business clients saying he “totally rejects […]

MPs today said they are “not convinced” of the economic case for a huge tidal scheme which would span the Severn estuary. A report by the MPs on Parliament’s energy watchdog found the scheme has failed to show a strong case both economically, environmentally and in terms of public acceptability. The report is likely to […]

Yesterday the Energy Bill was voted through by MPs in the Commons – but without an amendment forcing the Government to set a target for decarbonising the power sector by 2030. What does that mean for the energy sector? ELN asks backbench Conservative MP Tim Yeo who chairs the energy select committee – and who […]

The Government has fought off a vote to bring in a 2030 target to decarbonise the power sector – but only just. Yesterday the Energy Bill was presented in the House of Commons for the third time but MPs voted against an amendment forcing the Government to set the target in 2014, earlier than intended. […]

The UK could save as much as £100 billion if it made more investments in low carbon technologies rather than fossil fuels. A new report published today by the Committee on Climate Change suggests low carbon investments could create significant economic benefits, saving consumers between £25-£45 billion, which could rise to £100 billion with higher […]

UK Ministers are unable to say what they expect to achieve through the Government’s energy efficiency schemes, a new report says. The Energy and Climate Change Committee said it was surprised that DECC couldn’t provide an answer when asked about the expected outcomes of its Green Deal scheme. The Committee said it needs to know […]

It’s far “too soon” for the UK to get excited about shale gas bringing down energy prices, a report by MPs said today. Their report investigated new shale gas estimates in the UK and globally, as well as speculation that a “shale gas revolution” will bring an era of abundant, cheap gas. The members of […]

UK Ministers need to stop “crossing their fingers” and urgently develop a “Plan B” to meet climate change targets if new nuclear power stations are not built on time. In a new report published today, the Energy and Climate Change Committee said nuclear power could play an important role as a low carbon technology to […]