This draft national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for the energy infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108509353); renewable electricity generation (both onshore and offshore) (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108509360); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108509377); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108509384); and nuclear power generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108509391). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts.

This draft national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for renewable electricity infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: national policy for the energy infrastructure (EN-1) (ISBN 9780108509346); fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108509353); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108509377); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108509384); and nuclear electricity generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108509391). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts.

In November 2009 the previous Government published six draft energy NPSs and associated documents for public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. In the House of Commons, the previous Energy and Climate Change (ECC) Select Committee scrutinised the draft energy NPSs and published a report (HC 231-I, session 2009-10, ISBN 9780215545237) of itsfindings. This included a recommendation that the draft NPSs should be subject to a debate in the main chamber of the House of Commons. This debate took place on 1st December 2010 on the basis of revised draft NPSs and a number of issues were raised there. This is the Government response to the 18 recommendations made by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee to the revised NPSs.

£200 billion of new investment in energy infrastructure is needed by 2020 to cope with rising demand and meet targets on renewable energy and climate change. The six draft National Policy Statements (NPSs) are designed to speed up the planning process for major energy projects to help facilitate this investment, but the new drafts do not prioritise low-carbon generation and renewables over conventional capacity. New Government rules on energy policy could lead to a second 'dash for gas', delaying critical investment in renewables and other low carbon technologies and making the UK's climate change targets impossible to achieve. And development of too much gas capacity could crowd out opportunities for renewables to form a substantial component of the UK's energy mix. The Committee is also sceptical about the ability of the Government to deliver its aims on nuclear power. Ministers told the Committee that the NPSs should enable the development of 16 GW of new nuclear plant by 2025. That is two new nuclear plants each year. The MPs call for more clarity in coordinating developments, and stress that political certainty is essential for investors having to make decisions with planning horizons sometimes over several decades. It raises concerns about the level of investment uncertainty created by giving Ministers the ultimate power to decide on planning decisions and the Government should publish criteria against which the Secretary of State should exercise their discretion.

This draft national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for the energy infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108508059); renewable electricity generation (both onshore and offshore) (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108508516); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108508523); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108508530); and nuclear electricity generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108508332). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts.

This revised draft national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for electricity networks infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: national policy for the energy infrastructure (EN-1) (ISBN 9780108509346); fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108509353); renewable electricity infrastructure (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108509360); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108509377); and nuclear power generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108509391). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts