UK Prime Minister Vows Dramatic Renewable Energy Program

Prime Minister Brown today reaffirmed that the UK will spend $100 billion on a dramatic new energy program. The $100 billion will come from private business and encouraged through financial incentives in a speech to come from its business secretary, John Hutton.

Thousands of new wind turbines could be built across the UK as part of the program. Prime Minister Brown says: "It will require real leadership from government - being prepared to make hard decisions on planning or on tax for example. It will mean new kinds of consumer behaviour and lifestyles. And it will demand creativity, innovation and entrepreneurialism throughout our economy and our society."

The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. announcement of a paltry $100 million toward renewables and after the defeat of bill H.R. 6049. The bill would have had legislation to extended the residential and commercial tax credits for solar energy for eight years. The bill was supported by a diverse coalition including manufacturers, construction firms, environmental groups, electric utilities, chemical companies, banks, investors, labor, public health and religious organizations, trade associations and many others. But sadly the U.S. Senate defeated it.

Meanwhile, the U.K. says that this new renewable energy program will bring 160,000 new jobs. It plans that the North Sea will be turned into "the equivalent for wind power of what the Gulf of Arabia is for oil". Wind turbines will also be built inland, but with sensitivity towards local communities.