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Greens secure County backing for renewables |
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2nd November 2005
A motion by the County Green Group was narrowly passed (by just one vote) at the Full meeting of Oxfordshire County COuncil yesterday.
The motion - text below- offers the Council's support for two new Parliamentary Bills aimed at making it easier for Oxfordshire residents, and the Council, to support and promote domestic renewable energy systems such as wind and solar power.
Says Cllr Craig Simmons: "There is a huge number of Oxfordshire residents wanting to install renewable energy systems at home. But there are many barriers that make this more difficult than it need be. I am very pleased that the Greens were able to convince just enough Councillors to support new legislation which will make installation easuer."
FMI: Craig Simmons 0773 980 3047
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy In Buildings Bill
Proposed by: Cllr Craig SimmonsOxfordshire County Council 1. Recognises that microgeneration (that is the generation ofenergy by householders installing renewable energy systems in their own homes) is a valuable new approach to engaging people as consumers and citizens in the important issues of climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 2. Therefore, welcomes the introduction of the Climate Change andSustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy In Buildings Bill into Parliament by a cross party group of MPs on 22nd June, noting that together these Bills will: (a) Require the Prime Minister to report annually to parliament on the level of greenhouse gas emissions;(b) Require the Chancellor of the Exchequer to implement a fiscal strategy to assist with microgeneration and energy efficiency(c) Require the government to set national targets for microgeneration and enable local authorities to set such targets if they deem it appropriate(d) Extend permitted development status to the installation of microgeneration subject to the specifying of safeguards relating to visual and noise effects;
(e) Require utility companies to purchase at a reasonable rate any surplus energy generated by householders via microgeneration; (f) Require future revisions of Building Regulations to take into account the desirability of promoting microgeneration and of introducing an energy generating rating system in new buildings(
g) Enable householders who generate electricity by microgeneration to have access to ‘renewables obligation certificates’ and (h) Establish a ‘renewable heat obligation’ which requires utility companies to purchase a percentage of the heat that they then sell to their customers from renewable sources Council therefore
- Supports the Bills and resolves to inform the Government of the Council’s view
- Urges the Government to support the Bills
- Urges local MPs to be present in Parliament to back these Bills when they are debated in the House of Commons in November
- Urges local MPs to sign House of Commons Early Day Motion No 391 in support of these Bills
- Resolves to inform the local media and the Micropower Council of the passing of this resolution
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