Dale Vince, the Ecotricity founder and a Labour donor, wants Prime Minister Andy Burnham to approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas projects, arguing for a more practical stance on drilling in the North Sea. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Vince said the UK will rely on fossil fuels "for the next couple of decades" and that he would back more domestic production if it came with price controls on the wholesale energy market.
Vince said controlling wholesale energy prices the way the UK already controls retail prices could cut costs, and that doing so "would make more sense of Jackdaw and Rosebank."
A reversal from earlier opposition
Less than a year ago, Vince said he was "opposed to new drilling absolutely." He said he personally pressed Burnham to take a pragmatic approach on the two projects in the North Sea, and that backing them could also create jobs.
Vince said he remains committed to net zero. He added that reworking energy pricing "makes sense to be pragmatic about the North Sea," and said the goal was to bring bills down for everyone.
We reported that Badenoch pressed Burnham to protect North Sea drilling from an ICJ ruling.
