Caroline has been hugely concerned about the high energy and fuel prices that are hitting individuals and businesses hard. She has met with major energy companies and lobbied ministers for action to tackle rising prices, standing up in the House of Commons on a number of occasions to express her opposition to fuel duty increases. She supported the 'Fair Fuel' campaign, which successfully secured a freeze on the fuel duty increase, to ensure that the fuel prices harming families and companies are kept under control, and Caroline welcomes the fact that the Government has now frozen fuel duty for nine years.
Caroline is pleased that the Government have committed to extend the price protection currently in place for some vulnerable energy consumers to more of those on the poorest value tariffs. She welcomed The Gas and Electricity Tariff Cap which came into force in 2018 following a prepayment price cap in 2017 which protects over four million households using pre-payment meters.
Caroline welcomes the positive movement towards renewable energy. Renewable electricity capacity in the UK has trebled since 2010, the UK now has enough solar to power almost 2 million homes and is the most attractive market in the world for investment in offshore wind.
Caroline, believes that creating a better charging network for electric cars will play a vital role in improving air quality. She is pleased that local companies are installing rapid chargers available for use by electric vehicle drivers.
IFA2
National Grid have started a major new energy infrastructure project linking the UK's electricity network to France, with proposals for the UK connection point being located on the Stubbington side of the Daedalus site. The project is called IFA2 (Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2).
Caroline shares constituents concerns about the interconnector being located at Daedalus and first met with National Grid in November 2015. Since then, in a quest for answers to local residents' queries, she has had numerous meetings and correspondence with the Project Director.
When National Grid submitted a planning application to Fareham Borough Council, Caroline wrote to formally state her opposition to the plans. Caroline also raised her concerns with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.
On 23 January 2018, Fareham Borough Council’s planning committee approved the application, Caroline joined residents from both Fareham and Gosport to make deputations at the meeting.
Caroline remains concerned about the potential implications of the interconnector for businesses on the Enterprise Zone and still believes that Daedalus is not the right site.
