Mark has strongly backed new UK Government proposals for a revolution in how we use and generate energy.
 
The Climate Change Act 2008 set the first legally-binding targets anywhere in the world for reducing carbon emissions which will mean cuts of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Now the Government has explained how it intends to achieve that and declared it will press for an ambitious agreement at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December.
 
Mark is known as a radical campaigner on climate change and he commented:
 
"This new strategy meets head-on some of the problems that have been holding back renewable generation in the UK such as access to the grid.
 
"The Government is also bravely taking on the big energy companies by legislating to ensure they offer a fair deal for those on low-income.
 
"Time is running out and we desperately need a radical new global agreement to tackle global warming. These policies will ensure that the UK will be a credible voice calling for change at Copenhagen ."

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change announced that the contribution of the renewable sector to meeting our energy needs will be increased five-fold by 2020.

There will be significant new funding to develop offshore wind (£120 million) and wave and tidal power (£60 million).  
 
Access to the grid will in future be determined by the Government and renewable generators will be connected much more quickly. Small-scale schemes in particular will benefit from a secure return on the energy they sell back to the grid as the result of the new feed-in tariff.
 
One of the criticisms that has been made of renewable energy is that it is more expensive. To meet this, the Government is taking decisive action to protect those on low-income and offer help to everyone to spread the costs of insulation that will cut fuel bills long term.

There have been calls from charities and NGOs for legislation to force energy companies to provide social tariffs. The Government has now acted to do just that.
 
There will also be a massive roll-out of smart meters so that people will be aware of exactly how much energy they are using as they are using it and so able to budget more effectively.
 
At the same time, the role of Ofgem, the energy regulator, will radically change. Reducing emissions will become one of its main aims and where competition fails to deliver a fair deal for the consumer, it is the consumer that will be the priority.
    
For full details of the UK Government's plans, click here.

To read Ed Miliband's statement to the House of Commons, click here.