Renewable optimism

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Thousands of turbines, millions of electric cars: a wind of change has swept through energy policy

Britain's renewable energy policies are in a mess. Last year the government "obligated" power companies to make 6.7% of their electricity renewable; the industry could manage only 4.7%. We lag ever further behind Germany, Denmark and many others. Something had to be done. And this time, just maybe, the government is serious with its new consultation document on renewables, published today.

There are plenty of reasons to be cynical. Twenty years ago Chris Patten, the then Tory environment secretary, promised a renewable Britain. A decade ago Labour's Michael Meacher pledged 10% renewable electricity by 2010. 

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So why the optimism this time? Why should we believe ministers' promises to deliver 15% of all our energy (not just electricity) from renewables by 2020, and to construct7,000 wind turbines – an enterprise they say will cost £10bn?

Three reasons. First, the announcement comes from the business department, which is in charge of keeping the lights on, and not the environment ministry. Second, there are signs of joined-up thinking, for example in how to connect all those turbines to our homes. Earlier this week ministers announced plans for a new offshore national grid, costing £3bn, to collect the 10%-15% of our power they say will be generated by offshore wind turbines by 2020.