MPs urged to back carbon target

MPs are being urged to back an amendment to a crucial Bill which supporters claim will help secure thousands of green energy jobs in the Humber.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th May 2013, 01:01 BST

Business leaders say the Energy Bill as it stands does not provide “sufficient certainty” for investors, including Siemens, which has yet to sign up to build a £210m wind turbine factory in Hull. The amendment would mean the Government has to set a decarbonisation target by next year, which would take nearly all the carbon out of the economy by 2030. Siemens has said if it has to wait to 2016 for the target, it “would probably miss the boat”.

But Brigg and Goole Conservative MP Andrew Percy, one of 10 Humber MPs to receive a letter from business leaders, said he would not support an amendment which would “effectively destroy” thousands of jobs in gas, oil and coal.

He added: “The fact that ABP hasn’t signed, given they are the most important player in the Humber on this at the moment, makes the letter far less compelling.”