O’Brien to lead on low carbon economy and energy supply in newly formed DECC

Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, will lead on overall strategy and key international and EU negotiations and overseas engagements, but O’Brien will be the minister working closest with business and industry at DECC, which was created last week.

O’Brien will be responsible for  “delivering a low carbon economy and ensuring secure and affordable energy supply”, said a statement. His specific duties, will cover low carbon energy supply, such as renewable energy (including Severn tidal power), carbon capture and storage and cleaner fossil fuels, and nuclear strategy and delivery, including radioactive waste and international non-proliferation.

O’Brien will also be responsible for energy markets, prices and regulatory framework (including EU emissions trading), carbon budgets, resilience and emergencies, development consents and planning, licensing and exploration, offshore environment and decommissioning and the Energy Bill.

Lord Hunt will lead for DECC on energy innovation and emerging technologies, heat supply (including locally distributed energy), and coal liabilities including coal health payments.

He will also be the link with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which until the formation of DECC led on Climate Change issues.

A DECC statement said Lord Hunt would work with Defra “on issues important to both departments”, including sustainable consumption and production, adaptation, waste and air quality.

Lord Hunt will also represent DECC in the House of Lords, including helping with the passage of the Energy Bill and Climate Change Bill.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Joan Ruddock’s responsibilities will focus on energy consumers, specifically taking forward the Government’s fuel poverty policy and delivering the Prime Minister’s fuel bills initiative. She will also be responsible for working with wider Government departments to support the climate change and energy agenda.