The Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill, due for second reading on 8 th May, aims to boost the uptake of small-scale renewable energy.

There are three principal facets: revising the Government’s Microgeneration Strategy; reforming planning law for microgeneration units; and exempting ‘green’ properties from a rise in council tax or business rates.

The review of the Microgeneration Strategy is intended to kick-start the introduction of feed-in tariffs for small-scale and sustainable electricity generation, the legislative mechanisms for which were established in the Energy Act 2008. The review would also need to take into account measures to alleviate of fuel poverty, create new jobs through the use of Green Energy, and to improve the sustainability of local communities.

The Bill also seeks the reformation of planning law for microgenerative units.  Since 2008, permitted development rights have been in place for solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies at domestic properties, negating the need for planning permission in most cases. I am aiming to extend these arrangements to non-domestic buildings and agricultural land, and to enable air-source heat pumps and small scale wind turbines to benefit from similar procedures.  But I don’t plan a free-for-all: the Bill also includes strict limits to prevent any visual or aural nuisance.

Finally, the Bill seeks to ensure that if the ‘greening’ of a property raises its market value, then the owner won’t be stung by higher council tax or business rates. This would end a disincentive to doing the right thing.

The Bill is enabling rather than proscriptive. It gives the Secretary of State powers to review certain key areas, whilst not pre-judging the outcome. These reviews would establish a framework for interested parties – be they Local Authorities, trade groups, farmers, manufacturers or suppliers – to have their say on how best to create the widest possible uptake of green energy.

As I write this, Early Day Motion 1010 which supports my Bill has 202 signatures from all sides of the House. This is very encouraging. But to succeed, any Private Members’ Bill needs the support of the Government. Given the urgent need to clean up our energy supplies and make them more secure and affordable; and given the commercial opportunities and job-creating potential of the micropower sector; I sincerely hope that such support will be forthcoming