Britain's renewable energy policies are in a mess. Last year the
government "obligated" power companies to make 6.7% of their
electricity renewable; the industry could manage only 4.7%. We lag ever
further behind Germany, Denmark and many others. Something had to be
done. And this time, just maybe, the government is serious with its new
consultation document on renewables, published today.

There
are plenty of reasons to be cynical. Twenty years ago Chris Patten, the
then Tory environment secretary, promised a renewable Britain. ... Read full article