Resources for a sustainable future

28/1/2010 Guardian  The public overwhelmingly support a much more ambitious scheme to push renewable energy for homes and communities, a new poll shows today ahead of a key
government announcement next week.Government officials are putting the finishing touches to plans to boost the
take-up of renewable energy in Britain - which is the lowest in Europe - through
a system known as the “clean energy cashback”, or feed-in tariff.
In July last year the government unveiled the scheme which has been used
successfully for years in other European countries and pays above-market rates
for green electricity produced by consumers.
But the proposed tariff levels for power produced by small wind turbines, solar
panels and micro hydro schemes were criticised by green campaigners as not being
high enough to encourage businesses, households and communities to invest.
A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people carried out for Friends of the Earth
(FoE), the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and the Cooperative Group shows
two-thirds of people think that the government’s plans are not ambitious enough,
while 71% of homeowners said they would consider installing green energy systems
if they were paid enough cash. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is
expected to announce the tariff levels next week.
Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker said: “This poll confirms what we
have been saying for some time, that Labour massively underestimate the appetite
for decentralised energy among the public.
“Labour is failing to grasp the ambition that is out there in respect of this
exciting technology.”
Alan Simpson MP, the government’s special adviser on renewable energy, was
critical of the current plans: “If Britain wants to be part of a renewable
energy future, we have to go into it at a run rather than a waddle.
“As things stand, the government could turn a brilliant idea into a pitiful
failure. What the public are looking for is real vision and ambition, not a
towering lack of it.
“If Labour wants to be re-elected, it has to push aside the vested interests if
big energy and myopia within the Treasury. If you want the public’s vote, catch
up with the public mood. It’s as simple as that.”
FoE, the REA and the Co-op group say that the scheme as it currently stands,
which has an overall ambition to supply just 2% of UK electricity from
small-scale renewable energy sources (up to 5MW) by 2020. They argue it should
offer higher payments than those proposed and aim to deliver far more clean
electricity — up to one-third of the country’s total needs.
The poll also shows that 70% of respondents said that they would be prepared to
pay an extra 10p on their electricity bills each month (£1.20 annually), on top
of the already proposed annual increase of £1.17, until 2013 when the scheme is
due to be reviewed.
Andy Atkins, the executive director of the FoE, said: “The public overwhelmingly
wants the government to think big when it comes to small-scale renewable energy.
“Our homes, businesses and communities could become green power stations - but
bigger government incentives are needed to make this a reality. This will help
tackle climate change, create new jobs and businesses and reduce our reliance on
fossil fuels.”
Jeremy Leggett, the executive chairman of solar energy group Solarcentury, said
that the new government scheme could yet deliver hundreds of thousands of jobs
in solar photovoltaics and other small-scale renewables. “It could also cut
significantly our country’s increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels,” he
added.

Go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/27/feed-in-tariffs-renewable-energy