Taxpayer 'could be punished for failing to reach energy targets'

The failure to reach renewable energy targets could fall on taxpayer's shoulders, it has been suggested.

According to The Renewable Energy Centre, if the UK does not reach goals for 2020 set out by the EU, then it is likely to receive a hefty fine.

It was noted that failing to achieve the targets set out by this environmental legislation could result in taxpayers having to pay this fee.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said that commitment is "legally binding" but that the UK is "near the bottom of the leader board" in terms of contributing renewable energy to the EU.

Her comments follow a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which predicted that Britain will not achieve its 2020 renewable energy targets without significant investment in offshore windfarms.

The spokeswoman called for the government to take further action to "encourage private investment into windfarm projects".

She said that in order to avoid taxpayers' bailing the UK out, this funding was a "matter of urgency".

Posted by Claire Manning