East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth’s Green Energy Bill passed another hurdle towards making it possible for citizens to produce their own sustainable heat and power. The Bill, which has the Government’s support, passed its Third Reading and Report Stage in the House of Commons today and now goes forward to the House of Lords.

The Bill, strongly supported by the Micropower Council, the leading body for the promotion of microgeneration, requires the Government to update its strategy to grow the microgeneration sector, and to rip up specific red tape that is currently strangling parts of the sector.

The Green Energy Bill will:

• Define green energy to include microgeneration and specify a purpose to secure a diverse and viable long term energy supply, as well as alleviating fuel poverty;
• Require the government within 12 months to publish a revised Microgeneration Strategy. The strategy will be consulted on – and the Micropower Council will be promoting a list of measures for inclusion, including a financial and fiscal strategy;
• Review the case for allowing agricultural and non-residential microgeneration applications to be installed without planning permission;
• Require the government by law to fulfil its long-promised commitment to removing the need for certified air source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines below a certain size and noise level to be installed in or on domestic premises without planning permission.

Peter Ainsworth said :

“I am delighted that my Bill has completed its Commons stages. This brings us one step nearer to implementing practical policies to help green business and enable the public to play an active role in combating climate change. 

“I believe this will be helpful to people throughout East Surrey and across the country and, in particular, assist people in trying to cope with ever-increasing bills based on fossil fuels.”

Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council said:

“We are delighted that Parliament once again is pushing the microgeneration agenda, and thank the Ministers David Kidney and Joan Ruddock, and previously Mike O’Brien for lending government support to the Bill”.

“In particular we welcome the government’s agreement to take a renewed strategic look at policy affecting microgeneration and to the prospect of removing the last serious piece of red tape affecting micro-wind and air source heat pumps”.

Notes:

The text of the Bill can be found at:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/greenenergydefinitionandpromotion.html

Micropower or microgeneration is the production of energy on the smallest of scales, for individual buildings or communities. Micropower technologies emit low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2), or in some cases, no carbon dioxide at all, whilst allowing consumers to generate their own heat and/or electricity.

The Micropower Council is the umbrella voice of the UK microgeneration industry and the only body representing the full cross-section of micropower technologies. www.micropower.co.uk