Commenting on today’s announcement that Claire Coutinho has been appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, following Grant Shapps’s move to the position of Defence Secretary, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: 

“I’m delighted that Claire Coutinho is taking up this crucial role, at a time when the clean energy sector is facing unprecedented global economic challenges. We need urgent intervention from the new Secretary of State to re-establish the UK as the best destination for international investment in renewables, as our competitors are upping the ante and trying to lure developers and manufacturers elsewhere.

“There is already a lot of goodwill in the sector towards Claire, who championed offshore wind in her maiden speech in 2020, highlighting our global leadership in this technology. She was also a member of the Conservative Environment Network, which champions the case for moving faster and further on renewables to deliver cheap power for consumers and strengthen our energy security. 

“We’re looking forward to meeting her in her new role as soon as possible, to discuss new measures which will help us to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in clean tech, and enable the Government to reach its net zero goal on time and at the lowest cost”.  

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