Among the accomplishments: new fuel-efficiency standards, an increase of 120,000 barrels per day in domestic oil production last year, and the approval of dozens of renewable energy projects.
On Wednesday the government announced approval of eight new renewable energy projects, including offshore wind farms and conversions of coal-powered plants to run on biomass.
Dumfries and Galloway Council planning officials had recommended approval of the 2020 Renewables development subject to a number of conditions.
The chancellor now says she wants to slash the use of coal, speed up approvals for renewable energy investments, and reduce CO2 emissions drastically.
It's challenged further government regulations on coal-fired power plants, fought renewables, backed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and has cast doubt on the scientific research surrounding climate change.
In the long run, this "smart from the start" planning of renewable energy projects will result in better projects and faster approvals.
As the country's last coal-fired plants shuttered, authorities sped the approval process for clean-energy projects and enabled a boom in installation that led to a tripling of renewable energy capacity in less than a decade.
However, delays have been experienced in project approval, including the installation of the main project (Interview 4), due to the limited data on the cost and benefits of renewable energy projects, which need to be communicated with the government.
Strong proponent of renewable power.
