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Renewable energy coalition releases 12 step manifesto

Thursday 1 April 2010

  • UK’s leading renewable energy organisations sign up to joint General Election manifesto
  • 12 proposals to help ensure delivery of 2020 targets
  • Urgent need to act due to climate change, decommissioning of ageing plant and energy security

Nine of the UK’s leading renewable energy trade associations have signed up to a joint Manifesto, outlining proposals for the timely delivery of 2020 targets and urging the Government to act now on the looming energy and climate crisis. The 12 proposals would help ensure Britain delivers 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020, fulfilling its EU obligations and building a thriving ‘green collar’ industry sector in the process.

The document, The Zero Carbon Switch: Joint Manifesto for Renewables, highlights that up to a third of the UK’s ageing generating capacity will be decommissioned in the next five years, and that the country will become increasingly reliant on imported fossil fuels, with climate change remaining a serious threat.

The manifesto proposes 12 crucial steps to help deliver targets:

  • The need for strong leadership and delivery, combined with a long-term stable investment framework
  • Reform of the regulatory regime to ensure delivery of low carbon measures and enable investment for a significant expansion of renewable energy by 2020
  • Set out a clear pathway for the expansion of renewable energy generation up to 2050
  • A commitment to roll out of a smart grid network by 2030
  • Ensuring that Local Development Frameworks conform with national planning policy, including the 2020 targets
  • Development of a strategic plan for the delivery of key energy infrastructure
  • Introduction of a streamlined and properly funded accreditation scheme for micro generation and small systems technologies
  • Establish a national business rates relief scheme for renewable energy schemes
  • Improve access to funding for employers to provide vocational training places
  • Ensure that any publicly-backed Green Investment Bank facilitates an improved flow of public and private capital
  • Introduce Government backed low interest loans for initial capital costs of heat and micro-generation technologies
  • Create a coordinated mechanism to deliver energy efficiency

Adam Bruce, RenewableUK Chairman, said:

“Reaching our 2020 targets will mean that the UK needs to increase seven fold the amount of energy we get from renewables. Clearly, this is a truly significant undertaking and will be the largest single infrastructure investment since the coming of the railways.  We are looking at a major change in our energy consumption habits, and to facilitate this change renewable trade associations have co-operated on a manifesto that offers a route map.”

The signatories agree that: “Over the next 10 years the private sector will invest over £100billion pounds in developing the UK’s enormous green energy potential. However, in order to unlock this, and ensure that benefits are brought to the UK’s consumers and businesses, the next Government needs to lay out a clear energy policy and investment framework, with robust and stable financial support mechanisms to provide investor confidence.”

The Manifesto has been signed by Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of RenewableUK, David Green, Chief Executive of the UKBCSE, Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association, David Williams, Chief Executive of the British Hydropower Association, Graham Meeks, Director of the CHPA, David Matthews, Chief Executive of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and the Solar Trade Association, Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, Dave Sowden, Chief Executive, Micropower Council.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact:

  • Jennifer Webber, RenewableUK Head of Public Affairs on 020 7901 3012 or 07792 463 445; or Mark Pursey RenewableUK Communications Adviser on 07595 511 166
  • Josh Robson, Political Researcher, UKBCSE on 020 7976 4295
  • Paul Thompson, Head of Policy, REA on 07980 264580
  • David Williams, Chief Executive, British Hydropower Association on 01258 840934
  • Tom Fern, Communications Manager, CHPA on 020 7976 4296
  • David Matthews, Chief Executive of Ground Source Heat Pumps Association, Director of Solar Trade Association on 01908 354 542
  • Jenny Hogan, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables, on 07500 808 416
  • Grace Bennett, Policy and Communications Manager, Micropower Council on 01564 732790

The manifesto is available here

and on www.renewable-uk.com