Jacob Rees-Mogg has insisted he is not a “sceptic” of renewable energy and said he supports lifting a ban on onshore wind.
The Conservatives MP, who has previously criticised “climate alarmism”, said he was in fact in favour of net zero and that green energy had a role to play.
“I am not a ‘green energy sceptic’. I am in favour of intelligent net zero in which green energy will play the biggest role,” Mr Rees-Mogg wrote in an article in the Guardian newspaper published on Thursday.
He added: “Given the stakes, it’s important that the public debate on net zero and energy security is robust and lively, but I hope my commitment to making it a reality is clear.”
Burnishing his green credentials the Somerset MP said he supported lifting the effective moratorium on new onshore wind farms in England – a responsibility of his department.
In 2016 the government tightened planning rules that made most projects unviable, but chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and now Mr Rees-Mogg himself have signalled that the ban is set to come to an end.
The business secretary promised to “align onshore wind planning policy with other infrastructure to allow it to be deployed more easily in England”.
On solar, Mr Rees-Mogg also said his department was exploring options for to help households get financing to install their own solar panels on their homes.
It comes after his climate minister Graham Stuart on Wednesday said more ground-mounted solar panels were needed to meet the government’s renewable energy targets.
Yet the messages coming from Mr Rees-Mogg’s department contrast with those from Defra and Downing Street.
Liz Truss’s spokesperson on Monday confirmed that the prime minister wanted to push ahead with a ban on solar panels on farmland, which she had suggested during the leadership contest.
The proposal was criticised by environmental groups and renewable industry groups, who pointed out the policy appeared to contrast with the government’s stated mission of delivering “growth”.
Liberal Democrat climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse welcomed Mr Rees-Mogg’s comments, telling The Independent:
“It’s nice to see Jacob Rees-Mogg make a screeching U-turn on renewable energy.
“If Jacob Rees-Mogg has really been converted to climate action he would immediately stop his dangerous fracking projects and fully commit to Government investment into renewables, the cheapest and most popular form of energy.
“Many will only believe his damascene conversion unless his words are followed by actual actions. So far this Government has failed on climate change, they need to change or risk being shockingly out of touch.”
But Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer was among those who criticised Mr Rees-Mogg’s record.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Energy Agency and the United Nations have each warned there can be no new fossil fuel projects if there is to be any chance of keeping global temperature rises under 1.5 degrees.
“And yet the Business Secretary’s deeds since taking office include opening the bidding for new oil and gas explorations and backing fracking, sure fire ways to worsen global warming.
And Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, Mike Childs said: “Renewable energy is cheap, popular and quick to build – and developing more of the UK’s vast resources should be at the very centre of UK policy making
“If Jacob Rees-Mogg is in favour of intelligent net zero, why is his government doing so little on energy efficiency? The cheapest and greenest energy of all is the energy we don’t use. A street-by-street home insulation programme, focussing first on those most in need, would slash demand for gas, cut bills, keep people warm, create jobs – and help tackle the climate emergency.
“Instead, the Business Secretary is leading the charge for fracking and more gas and oil developments, despite the fact that this would increase emissions, keep the nation hooked on expensive gas and oil and do practically nothing to address the cost-of-living crisis.
“We urgently need a new strategy to address the energy and climate challenges we face – and a secretary of state who will deliver it.”
