Liberal Democrat, MP Ed Davey has been confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change after Chris Huhne this morning stepped down. The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, announced the decision shortly after Huhne confirmed his resignation.
Davey comes to the role from his position as Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
Commenting on the appointment, Clegg said: “I think he is the right man for the job to take up from where Chris has left off to provide sustainable solutions to the long-term energy needs of this country.
“I will be meeting Ed shortly so that he can make an early start in that very important work.”
Clegg continued to say that Davey has a “lifelong commitment to environmental and green issues” and that he had displays a “formidable grasp of Government policy”.
In the past, Davey has voted in favour of climate change, including backing a law that would cap emissions from power stations.
Those working in renewable energy hope that Davey will succeed in working together with industry in order to drive a low carbon agenda.