Brief
Tony Blair Institute urges Healey to swap net‑zero plan for cheaper power mission
The think‑tank says the government should prioritize lower energy bills while keeping net‑zero as a long‑term goal.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On the eve of the UK Autumn Budget, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) urged Chancellor John Healey to replace the Clean Power 2030 strategy with a "cheaper power mission" focused on reducing household and business energy costs.
What happened
The institute released its latest report on 27 October, recommending that the upcoming Budget introduce a scheme rewarding businesses that consume electricity during off‑peak periods and in low‑demand grid zones. It also called for the government to use its forthcoming 10‑year plan to accelerate connections of high‑value energy projects to the grid and to reconsider zonal pricing, an idea previously rejected by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the TBI’s proposal comes as UK energy bills remain among the highest in the G7, driven by reliance on natural gas and price spikes linked to conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. The report argues that rewarding off‑peak usage could tap under‑used wind power in Scotland and reduce the need to pay wind farms to curtail output.
What was said
"Britain is paying wind farms to reduce their output at the same time as businesses are struggling to get the electricity they need. That is a clear sign that our energy strategy needs to change," said Tone Langengen, director of climate and energy policy at the TBI, as quoted by the Independent.
Chancellor John Healey was quoted as saying, "The Government should replace Clean Power 2030 with a cheaper power mission – keeping net zero as the destination, while putting affordability, security and electrification at the heart of how we get there."
Key facts
- The Tony Blair Institute recommended replacing Clean Power 2030 with a cheaper power mission. (independent.co.uk)
- The proposal includes rewarding businesses that use electricity off‑peak and in low‑demand grid areas. (independent.co.uk)
- The institute suggested reopening the idea of zonal pricing, previously rejected by Sir Keir Starmer. (independent.co.uk)
- UK energy bills remain among the highest in the G7 due to natural‑gas reliance and geopolitical conflicts. (independent.co.uk)
- Tone Langengen and Chancellor John Healey were quoted in the report. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Choose cheap energy supply over net zero at Budget, Blair tells Healey”
