Ed Miliband has decreed that imported electricity will count as being as ‘clean’ as wind and solar even when it comes from burning coal and gas, in a move critics have branded “cheating” and “bonkers”. The Telegraph has the story.

Ed Miliband faces cheating accusations over plans to exclude emissions generated in foreign gas-fired power stations from UK totals.

He has pledged to make the grid 95% gas-free by 2030 – but 15% of UK power comes from neighbours like Belgium, the Netherlands and France, which have coal and gas-fired power stations.

Miliband has ruled that all such imported power is be classed as zero-carbon – making it look as green as wind or solar – because the emissions occur outside UK borders.

The decision will bring his target of a “95% gas-free” grid by 2030 within much easier reach because it means electricity generated overseas will all be deemed to be carbon-free – even if it comes from burning coal.

Miliband’s approach was described as “cheating” by Kathryn Porter, an energy analyst at Watt-Logic. …

Britain is increasingly reliant on energy imports, especially when wind and solar output plummets.

On such days the UK’s reliance on imports surges to more than 20% – pushing up CO2 emissions. If overseas emissions incurred in generating power for the UK were included, it would potentially undermine the 95% carbon-free target.

Omitting foreign energy supplies from UK carbon accounting is widely deployed.

Last week, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) said that the UK’s combined solar, wind and nuclear fleet had reduced gas-fired generation to just 2.3% of UK power.

The announcement omitted to mention that Britain was also getting more than 12% of its electricity from overseas – potentially including foreign coal and gas-fired power stations.

It also omitted the contribution of Drax, the UK’s most controversial power station, which is powered by burning wood chips imported from forests in North America. It typically generates 4% to 5% of UK electricity. …

Claire Coutinho, the Shadow Energy Secretary, said carbon accountancy was destroying jobs.

“This is the problem with our carbon accounting, it counts carbon emissions for things we make in the UK but not for foreign imports. That means we offshore our emissions alongside jobs, tax revenue and our energy security. It’s bonkers.”

Read More: Miliband Decrees Imported Electricity is ‘Clean’ Even When it Comes From Coal and Gas