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Proceeding contribution from Lord Whitehead (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 February 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill on Energy Bill.

Energy Bill

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that investment decisions are not just about whether we build new things, but about whether we keep existing things open? Does he also accept that after 2015-16, about 10 coal-fired power plants will continue to operate on the basis of fitting scrubbers to their chimneys under the large plant directive? We ought to ask whether those plants should continue to exist abated in the 2020s. Does he consider that they are necessary to balance the system, or does he think that they should close immediately after 2015-16? Furthermore, does he believe that a three-year review, at the time when those decisions to close or open are being made, might be the best method of ensuring that those plants know that they are going towards carbon sequestration and that they can stay open for a time as marginal suppliers in order to balance out the system and keep that new investment coming in?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
506 c353 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disclosure of information Consumers Consumption Capital investment Coal fired power stations Carbon capture and storage Fees and charges Licensing EU law Electricity generation Ofgem Electricity Increases Fuel poverty Natural gas Pollution control Prices Standards Carbon emissions Climate Change Committee
Legislation
Energy Bill 2009-10
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk