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Friends of the Earth Scotland has today (Thursday 15 December 2011) responded to the release of a new report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which states that household energy bill increases are being driven by the rising cost of wholesale gas and not the cost of establishing renewable energy technologies.

The CCC’s findings disprove recent claims that household energy bill increases have been due to environmental policies, and that investment in renewable energy technologies will drive household bill increases in the future.

Stan Blackley, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“This report disproves the often repeated claim from vested interests opposing renewables that green technologies are driving household energy bill increases. It is absolutely clear that household energy bill increases are being driven largely by the rising cost of wholesale gas, as well as the enormous profits made by the ‘Big Six’ energy companies who dominate the market.

“This is yet another piece of evidence to show that making the transition to renewable technologies will not only help us reduce our climate emissions and meet our legally binding carbon reduction targets, but will also help make Scotland become more energy-secure and stabilise energy prices for domestic customers.

“The CCC rightly highlights the opportunities for improved effort on energy efficiency, stating that by properly insulating our homes, using electricity and gas more carefully and switching to more efficient household appliances, we could reduce overall gas and electricity consumption and stabilise energy bills in 2020 at 2010 levels.

“In order for this to happen, we need to see continued and increased effort and resource at both Scottish and UK Government level, to lead and enable the transition to a low carbon economy for Scotland, and to help make Scotland’s energy supplies more secure, more environmentally friendly and more affordable.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland
 t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1. The Committee’s report: “Household energy bills – impacts of meeting carbon budgets” is available to download from: www.theccc.org.uk/reports/household-energy-bills

2. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC)is an independent statutory body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK Government on setting carbon budgets, and to report to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
 www.theccc.org.uk

3. Friends of the Earth Scotland is * Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation * An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland * Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk