UK to ditch ‘dirtiest fuel’ in policy change

Energy Secretary Amber Rudd will today signal the end of the UK’s reliance on coal-fired power stations as she outlines a new direction for energy policy.

In a major speech, the Tory front bencher is expected to say it “cannot be satisfactory” for an advanced economy like Britain’s to be dependent on the “dirtiest fuel”.

She will hail gas and nuclear as central to a secure energy future, pointing to a “legacy of under-investment” in the latter.

And she will call for new gas-fired power stations to be built over the next 10 years to replace those running on coal.

“We need to build a new energy infrastructure, fit for the 21st century,” she is due to say, as she insists she is working towards a “consumer-led, competition focused” system for families and businesses.

But even before she made the remarks, Ms Rudd – already under fire over the UK Government’s plans to close renewable subsidy schemes for wind and solar early – triggered controversy.

Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, accusedherof living in a “fantasy world” where nuclear is affordable and fracking produces useful amounts of gas.

He also dismissed the plan as “little more than a reheated version of Thatcher’s energy policy”.

“Aiming to close down coal power stations is commendable but planning to replace them with a new fleet of gas-fired power stations will automatically lock us into a high-carbon power system, guaranteeing we won’t meet UK climate targets,” he added.

Aberdeen South MP Callum McCaig described UK energy policy as a “complete and utter shambles”.

TheSNP’s energyandclimate change spokesman accused the government of damaging investor confidence in renewables.

He also said the security of supply was being brought into question for the first time in years.