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FOE groans at another Government consultation. - Government action not words needed to support green energy

30 Mar 1999

Responding to the Government's long-awaited announcement on policies to boost renewable energy in the UK, Friends of the Earth welcomed the Government's continuing commitment to its target of 10% of electricity from renewable energy by 2010, but expressed concern that arguments between Whitehall Departments risk undermining the development of an embryonic industry with significant job creation potential in the UK.

The year long Government review of renewable energy has resulted in yet another consultation document without a clear view of the policies needed to ensure that the Government's renewable target is met. FOE believes that this continued delay reflects Treasury and DTI disagreements over the cost of supporting renewables, even though renewables are becoming increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. Renewables are already cheaper than nuclear electricity.

Anna Stanford, Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“Renewable energy offers a cost effective and sustainable way to fight the serious threat of climate change and create much needed new jobs in the UK. If this embryonic industry is to fulfill its potential, there must be joined-up thinking across all government departments, including the Treasury. The renewables industry can't afford to wait for the inter-departmental arguing to stop - it needs new policy measures in place now.”

FOE was pleased to see the following included in the Governments consultation paper,which it has been lobbying for some time:

.    increased funds for renewables Research and Development
.    a recognition that renewable energy generators should get a fair price for their electricity to reflect the value of 'embeddedness' (ie small-scale renewable energy plants plug straight into the local distribution system).
.    support for an obligation on either electricity suppliers or distributors to source a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources            more>>

.    recognition of the need to address planning problems at the local level

However, FOE was disappointed that the paper contained no longer-term targets beyond 2010 and did not reflect the enormous potential for renewable energy in the UK. Our own research has shown that with the right institutional arrangements and policy mechanisms,the UK could generate 23% of its electricity from renewables by 2010 - more than twice the Government's target.

The greatest concern, and evidence of the lack of joined-up thinking in Government, is that electricity from renewable sources is not exempt from the Government's new climate change levy. This is an anomaly that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Planning problems being experienced by renewable energy developers at the local level also need urgent action by government, as less than half the projects awarded contracts are being successfully deployed. If these planning hurdles are not overcome, no matter what target is set by governments, renewable energy projects will not be built.

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