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Speaking in parliament, Mr Darling said that there are two challenges facing the UK today: Climate Change and Stable Affordable Energy in ?an unstable world.? By 2030 the UK's energy requirement will be 50% higher than today, but at the same time our oil and gas reserves are declining, and most nuclear stations are due to close over the next 10-20 years.

The Secretary of State said that the ?first priority? was to save energy. It is estimated that 7% of electricity is consumed by inefficient products and using standby. The government will seek to faze out ?inefficient goods? and presumably the standby switch. He also announced that the government will double the obligation on energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to customers through a new 'Carbon Emission Reduction Target'.

To help households, the energy suppliers will be encouraged to offer free 'smart meter' displays until 2010. These displays show real-time information about electricity usage along with information about the amount of CO2 that electricity is creating. Some meters allow you to see this information for individual items.

By 2015 the government want to supply 15% of electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and the controversial tidal systems being proposed in the Severn Estuary. The remainder would have to come from coal and gas, and if not from coal and gas, then from nuclear.

Greenpeace has already successfully challenged the government in the High Courts over its lack of consultations on nuclear. In response, Mr Darling announced a public consultation which will continue until October. To have your say click on the NuclearPower2007 link.

In response, Alan Duncan, Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, chided Mr Darling asking when climate tax would be lifted on Carbon Capture Schemes. Carbon Capture is a new technology that allows coal to be burned, but rather than releasing the CO2 into the atmosphere, it is buried deep underground. Many see this method as the best way forward to supplement renewable energy because there is a plentiful supply of coal, traditionally the dirtiest fuel. The Carbon Capture technology, however, is still very new and Britain is yet to build its first facility.