The U.K. 's coalition government outlined legislation to promote low-carbon energy production and secure energy supplies announced in the Queen's Speech that was delivered to parliament Tuesday.

The Energy Bill 2010 that the coalition government wants to pass in the coming session of parliament, which ends in late 2011, includes a national program of energy-efficiency measures and potential incentives for suppliers and households.

The government said it may also introduce powers to regulate the emissions from coal-fired power stations, reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition as well as putting in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionize the management of supply and demand for electricity.

"The Queen's Speech and last week's program of government make clear that energy security and taking real action to tackle climate change aren't add on extras for this new government, but are vital to our national interest," said Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.

The main elements of the bill are the implementation of a "Green Deal" on energy efficiency that includes potential incentives to suppliers and households.

The Bill may also contain measures to require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills to empower consumers and ensure fair access to energy supplies and ensure that North Sea infrastructure is available to all companies to make it easier to develop smaller and more difficult oil and gas fields.

The government may also create a Green Investment Bank to support investment in low-carbon projects.

However, the U.K. 's first and only lawmaker representing the Green Party said the measures didn't go far enough, while the Institution of Civil Engineers, or ICE, called for more clarity around the Green Investment Bank and new planning regime.

"We will need extensive investment in the U.K.'s infrastructure in the next decade, estimated to be in the realm of GBP40-GBP50 billion a year with a growing proportion needing to come from private investors, and at this stage ICE is yet to be convinced that the government's Green Bank is ambitious enough to meet the challenge," said ICE Director General Tom Foulkes.

U.K. energy regulator Ofgem said this year that about GBP200 billion investment would be required in low-carbon generation and electricity grid infrastructure over the next 10 to 15 years if the U.K. is to meet its climate change and energy security targets.

The Queen's Speech also said that the government would seek effective global collaboration to combat climate change, including at the climate change talks in Mexico at the end of this year.

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