Manufacturers call on Osborne to boost energy efficiency

Four major industry associations have called on the Chancellor George Osborne to both address rising energy costs and support investments in industrial energy efficiency measures.


In a letter to the Treasury, sent on Friday 28th February, the pulp and paper, petroleum, food and drink, and combined heat and power industries asked the Government to deliver the two measures in the upcoming Budget.

The letter was signed by Food and Drink Federation’s head of climate change and energy policy Stephen Reeson, Combined Heat and Power Association director Tim Rotheray, Confederation of Paper Industries director general David Workman and UK Petroleum Industry Association director general Chris Hunt.

It recommends that any industrial competitive package “adjusts the Carbon Price Floor trajectory as soon as possible” and provides Combined Heat and Power (CHP), “a key measure adopted by industrial sectors to maintain their international competitiveness”.

CHPA director Rotheray said: “Rising energy costs and the impact of energy taxes are having a real effect on British industry competing across Europe.

“But it’s not enough to just reduce industrial energy costs today. We also need to be supporting UK industry’s investments in energy efficiency measures,” he added.

Leigh Stringer

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