New plans to create green jobs and bring down soaring energy bills

Bob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, added his support to new Conservative plans to create new jobs, keep fuel bills down and protect the environment. This blueprint for a Conservative Government was set out in a plan for a 'low carbon economy'.

It comes as official figures show that there are 254,000 number of households in fuel poverty across London, a rise of 135% since 2003.

The new Conservative proposals include:

·          Energy efficiency improvements for local homes: Allowing every home to be fitted immediately with up to £6,500 of approved energy efficiency improvements. The cost would be repaid through fuel bills over a period of up to 25 years. There would be immediate reductions in the gas and electricity bills of households taking part.

·          More information on energy usage: Requiring energy suppliers to ensure that every gas and electricity bill gives comparative information about energy use; and introducing new 'smart meter' technology, to give people more information on household and workplace appliances.

·          More small-scale renewable energy: Creating a decentralised energy revolution by introducing a system of 'feed in tariffs' for electricity generation to multiply electricity production from micro-generation. Home owners would be paid for energy they generated from their own home.

·          Local firms to help home owners: Introducing new rules that allow employers to meet their carbon reduction requirements by sponsoring energy efficiency improvements in their employees' homes.

·          An electricity internet:  Bringing our electricity grid out of the 1950s and 1960s by adding computing intelligence through the introduction of a 'smart grid', allowing demand and supply to be intelligently managed.

·          Support for electric and hybrid cars: Establishing a new national recharging network, enabling Britain to lead the world in replacing traditional cars with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

·          Better rail links: Starting work immediately on a new high speed rail network linking cities in the North and South, boosting economic regeneration and jobs, and removing the need for a third runway at Heathrow.

Bob Blackman said:

"By embracing new technologies, we can keep energy bills down, reduce carbon emissions and create new green jobs. Real help will be brought to families struggling to make ends meet during Labour's recession.  

"It's a great idea to allow every household to have up to £6,500 worth of insulation fitted at no upfront cost. This would mean instant reductions in energy bills and would dramatically cut the carbon footprint of every home in Harrow.''

Notes to Editors

The Conservative Plan for a Low Carbon Economy was launched on 16 January 2009. It can be downloaded at:

http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/01/Our_Plan_for_a_Low_Carbon_Economy.aspx

The table below shows the number of households in fuel poverty, according to the most recent Government figures. Independent estimates suggest that the figures have soared even more in 2007 and 2008.

Data source: Hansard, 25 November 2008, col. 1468W.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081125/text/81125w0069.htm 08112658001061