New government prioritises energy security

The Conservative government has said that ensuring the security of the UK’s energy supplies is among its top priorities for the years ahead.
The Queen’s Speech, which was delivered on 27 May, confirmed that the government would introduce a new Energy Bill, partly in response to the tightening electricity margins that the UK is expected to face over the next couple of winters. The legislation will primarily be used to establish the new Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) as an independent regulator of the North Sea industry. The creation of the OGA was a key recommendation of the Wood Review, which last year reported to the coalition government on the steps necessary to maximise economic recovery from the North Sea. The OGA will take on the regulatory powers, in relation to the oil and gas sector, that are currently wielded by the energy and climate change secretary.
The Bill would also transfer consenting powers for onshore wind projects of over 50MW from the energy and climate change secretary to local planning authorities. In addition, the government will soon come forward with proposals for withdrawing subsidies for new onshore wind developments.