Press release
Good news for councils as ban on selling green energy overturned
8 July 2010
Welcoming the Government's decision yesterday to overturn the ban on councils selling green electricity to the national grid, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
"This is great news - at long last councils will be able to earn money by selling green electricity generated from small-scale renewable projects to the grid.
"It is a real incentive for them to bring in new clean energy schemes that will benefit everyone in the area, including poorer communities.
"With budget cuts looming, the cash raised will be more welcome than ever, and should be used for schemes like making homes energy efficient, which will slash energy bills, tackle fuel poverty and create jobs.
Commenting on the publication of every English council's carbon footprint, Andy Atkins said:
"If the UK is to meet its targets for tackling climate change it is crucial that councils play their part, and more data on emissions will help them do this.
"But these figures must be translated into action - the Government should ensure that local carbon budgets are introduced for every council, setting a fair cap on CO2 emissions in that area in line with what the science says is required."
Notes to Editors:
1. Friends of the Earth led the successful campaign for feed-in tariffs (FITs), introduced in April 2010. FITs give guaranteed long-term payments to homes, businesses and communities for all the energy they generate from small scale renewable schemes up to 5MW (equivalent to two large wind turbines) such as solar panels and wind turbines.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2010
