UK's low-carbon policies are blocking investment

The UK's lack of a clear strategy for developing low-carbon energy is deterring investment in the sector and threatens to derail its carbon emissions reduction policy

Rupert Steele, director of regulation at ScottishPower, told a parliamentary committee that the government must clarify its policy on low-carbon energy generation post-2020."Investing in low-carbon electricity has the potential to boost the (UK's) economy, but there's been big political uncertainty over the last few years," Steele said. "By giving clarity to markets ... you drive costs down and having clear targets will mean we will require [fewer] subsidies. Companies like mine prefer to live in a world of no subsidies rather than ones which are volatile." The government's new energy bill, released in November 2012, more than tripled its subsidy commitment to low-carbon energy generation fr