date: 9 November 2009

embargo: For immediate release

Energy plans will create half a million new jobs

Commenting on Government plans for the UK's future energy supplies announced today (Monday) by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This shows that the Government is determined to take the necessary action to speed up the shift to a low carbon economy, a move which will create up to half a million new jobs, make the UK less reliant on energy supplies from overseas and bring substantial environmental benefits.

'The news that several new nuclear power stations are to get the go-ahead will create many new job opportunities and a more streamlined planning process will avoid lengthy delays.

'Funding to develop clean coal technology will help the UK become a force to reckon with in this highly competitive market, and will help ensure the UK's coal-fired power stations, and the thousands of workers employed within them, have a future.

'And the many thousands of skilled workers who have been made redundant in recent months will now get the chance to move across into new green jobs. There is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that the right training framework is in place to generate the necessary skills, and the TUC looks forward to working with the Government on this.

'As a result the UK will not only have a balanced low carbon energy system, its energy production will be much less damaging to the environment, and a new highly skilled workforce will emerge, ensuring the UK becomes a key player in the new global low carbon economy.'

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 9 Nov 2009