Proposed EA chair refuses to divest in firm chosen for government project

Alan Lovell says he sees no conflict of interest in Environment Agency role and having shares in Progressive Energy

The prospective new chair of the Environment Agency is refusing to divest his shareholding in a hydrogen and carbon capture company chosen for a major government project.

Alan Lovell stood down as a director of Progressive Energy last month, according to Companies House records, two days after being announced as the preferred candidate for the role running England's environmental watchdog.