UK now needs shale gas power

Sir, - Power stations operating under normal market conditions this winter will produce barely enough electricity to meet peak demand.

The spare margin has fallen to just 0.1%.

This is the result of the Climate Change Act 2008 which the Government imposed without regard to the consequences and led to the closure of coal-fired plants, leading to the lack of reliable back-up for when the wind does not blow, or blows too strongly. Now the National Grid has been forced to intervene.

It will now pay 10 fossil-fuelled power plants £123 million to stay open but idle.

The UK Government should repeal the Climate Change Act and build gas-fired power plants fired by UK shale gas. Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.

The UK Government should repeal the Climate Change Act and build gasfired power plants fired by UK shale gas