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- 2010
- Join the Big Climate Connection
- The UK's Climate Change Act goes on tour
- Gulf of Mexico oil spill
- Science demands we Get Serious About CO2
- Climate change reports and briefings round-up
- Under inspection
- Planning and the climate challenge
- Councils getting paid to generate green energy
- Bonn climate talks
- Key role for local councils if UK is to meet renewable energy targets
- Join the debate - Change trade not our climate
- Councils allowed to sell electricity
- The Robin Hood Tax
- Friends of the Earth in private meeting at UN
- Goodbye, de Boer
- Elementary, my dear Watson
- An evening of climate justice - London
- 100 days in and a long way to go
- Good Energy winter price freeze
- Big step forward for Warm Homes campaign
- Charities unite to protect tenants from cold
- One in three Brits too cold at home
- Insulating homes could save lives
- UK’s poorest left out in the cold by Government cuts
- Councils leading the way with green policies
- Councils petition Huhne for local action on climate
- Adios, amigos
- Big boost for Local Carbon Budgets campaign
Councils getting paid to generate green energy25 June 2010
Friends of the Earth teamed up with the Energy Savings Trust (EST) in May to run 2 conferences for local authorities on how they can get paid to generate green energy.
It was the perfect opportunity to convince key decision-makers from all over the UK to use feed-in tariffs, with delegates from more than 250 councils and housing associations.
Friends of the Earth led the successful campaign for feed-in tariffs (FITs). It pays people who generate their own renewable power, from sources like solar or wind, a set amount per unit of energy - guaranteed for up to 25 years. The icing on the cake is an extra sum for every unit of unused energy that the householder or business exports back to the National Grid. And of course, people who have installed the kit also have lower fuel bills and a secure supply of locally produced power.
FITs could spark a massive surge in renewable energy use in the UK.
Some councils are already using FITs to tackle fuel poverty, save money for local residents, regenerate the local economy and cut carbon emissions.
Urgent action is needed from local councils across the country to cut emissions if we're to meet our commitments under the Climate Change Act.
Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins spoke at the conference in London, calling on councils to support our campaign for local carbon budgets.
The campaign continues
We're campaigning for the ambition and scale of the feed-in tariffs to be improved.
We want them to support more and larger-scale green infrastructure.
Early indications are that the new coalition Government agrees.
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