Today’s Daily Telegraph reports research attacking renewable energy - but fails to say the research was commissioned by Calor Gas.
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A seemingly plausible article in the Daily Telegraph claims that renewable energy will push up bills, an agenda close to the newspaper’s heart.
It bases the article on research by the enviro-friendly sounding, ‘Renewable Energy Forum’ (REF), adding further credibility.
The Daily Telegraph reports:
“Household electricity bills will rise by as much as a quarter to pay for wind farms and other forms of renewable energy, according to a new report.
“The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has insisted that energy bills will begin to fall from next year and will be reduced by seven per cent – or £94 – by 2020 because of new energy efficiency policies.
“But a study of the government’s own figures by the Renewable Energy Forum (REF), a specialist renewable energy consultancy, has accused DECC of deliberately misleading the public.”
However, the REF’s report, has an interesting note to editors at the bottom of its press release, that the Telegraph failed to mention:
Shortfall, Rebound, Backfire, by Dr John Constable, Dr Lee Moroney and Diana Beatty, was commissioned by Calor Gas Ltd. Calor wished REF to review the Government’s impact analyses in DECC’s 2011 Annual Energy Statement.
So a report claiming that renewable energies will contribute to an increase in energy bills is sponsored by a, er, non-renewable energy company? Fancy that.
• Telegraph distorts the truth on energy bills 10 May 2012
Unfortunately, the Telegraph fails to mention this connection in its article so readers are presented with information which appears to be from an unbiased report.
15 Responses to “Telegraph reports anti-renewable energy research, doesn’t mention dirty energy backing”
Douglas Parr
Telegraph reports anti-renewable energy research, doesn’t mention dirty energy backing: http://t.co/gmLdJ3nY by @KatieDagger
tim bastable
the Renewable Energy Forum is a wholly owned subsiduary of the Renewable Energy Foundation – an anti wind lobbying group – I’ve written a series of essays about these groups at http://www.biggreenbang.co.uk/index.php/subsidies-truth-and-lies – that carry links and info and it seems fairly evident that the likes of the telegraph are carrying an overt anti -wind/renewables agenda – essays have some good evidence trails if they are helpful
Anonymous
A quarter is an under-estimate, with current plans.
The DECC’s “forecasts” are ignoring numerous factors and strongly resemble , in their political slant, the Office of Budgetry Fiddling’s tailored calculations.
Sean Candy
Telegraph reports anti-renewable energy research, doesn't mention … http://t.co/xxXUYmnA
Richard Walthers
Telegraph reports anti-renewable energy research, doesn't mention … http://t.co/TW3pafhl