Reuters Impact: Good Energy CEO calls on UK government to 'get out of the way'
07/09/2023 13:16
By Gloria Dickie
LONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Energy services company Good
Energy's CEO called on Thursday for Britain's government to "get
out of the way" in order to allow the expansion of decentralised
renewable energy systems.
Nigel Pocklington, who joined Good Energy GOODG.L in 2021,
told a panel at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London that
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government needed to foster an
environment where consumer demand and private sector investment
can speed along the renewable energy transition.
"I've been doing this job two years and a bit years now and
I'm onto my fourth secretary of state for energy," he said.
"It's very difficult to operate within this environment."
Concerns have grown in recent months about a green backlash
sweeping across Britain and Europe.
Initiatives such as London's Ultra Low Emission Zone, meant
to improve urban air quality, have ignited criticism of London
Mayor Sadiq Khan for passing environmental costs onto citizens.
But interest in renewable energy is up, fuelled by the
European energy price crisis, with the number of home rooftop
solar panel installations doubling in Britain between 2022 and
2023.
Still, government support has not been at the level it
should be, Pocklington said.
"I fear at the moment it's all a bit too populist and
short-termist."
To view the live broadcast of the Road to COP Stage go to
the Reuters IMPACT news page:
(Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Editing by Alexander Smith)
((Gloria.Dickie@thomsonreuters.com;))