OFFSHORE Energies UK has today thrown its weight behind calls for a new independent body to oversee energy and the transition to net zero.
It follows Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that Labour would increase and extend the windfall tax, whilst also removing investment allowances, risking up to 100,000 jobs in the industry.
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has previously called for an independent, non-partisan organisation to be established focussing on the energy industry, and the CEO of OEUK has now aligned the organisation with those plans, calling on a new body to be created with oversight “across the entire energy trilemma”.
In an interview with Energy Voice, David Whitehouse said: “What we’re talking about is an evolution of what we have in the UK. We have some great institutions.
“The Committee on Climate Change I think provides a is a valuable resource, but it’s focused purely on our climate goals. The Office of Budget Responsibility has a role to play in terms of understanding the value in our economy.
“What we’re calling for is a body that gives long term overview, sets out that long term path, but actually looks across the entire energy trilemma.”
OEUK’s general election manifesto says homegrown oil and gas “will underpin a successful energy transition”, and calls on the removal of the windfall tax.
But Mr Whitehouse warned ahead of the next election that delivering a successful green industrial revolution “is in the balance”.
He added that investment in oil and gas must continue to protect the country’s renewables.
Speaking to The Scotsman, he said: “If we undermine oil and gas investment now, that will undermine investment in carbon storage, it will undermine investment in wind, it will undermine the very supply chain companies that we need for the UK and Scotland to take advantage of that.
“So our manifesto is very clear. We do this in a collaborative way, we accept that while we use oil and gas throughout the transition that we should prioritise domestic production, and in doing so that is the absolute platform for delivering a successful energy transition which creates jobs, value and delivers on our climate goals.”
