A broad range of environmental and industry groups today welcomed the launch at Westminster, of two sustainable energy bills by MPs Mark Lazarowicz and Dr. Alan Whitehead. The two Private Members Bills- the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill are designed to bring into place the necessary policies and targets to help microgeneration for all become a reality.

Microgeneration, the generation of energy by individual householders or groups of householders, offers a key energy source with minimal pollution. It has the advantage of not only helping combat climate change and alleviating fuel poverty but also engaging consumers with doing their bit to cut climate emissions.

Andrew Warren, Director of the Association for the Conservation of Energy said: “we fully support these Bills, particularly the clauses on improving the enforcement of building regulations, and requiring a fiscal strategy to assist with energy efficiency. The Bills will help the Government to meet its climate change and energy efficiency targets and give confidence to the energy efficiency industry about the seriousness with which Government treats these issues.”

Dave Sowden, Chef Executive of the Micropower Council said: “we warmly welcome this initiative by Mark Lazarowicz and Alan Whitehead which will help secure the future for microgeneration and alleviate climate change. It is vital that the micropower industry gets clear policy signals to enable it to invest sufficiently to allow the price to come down and for production to become mass market. These Bills have widespread cross party support and once enacted will bring about the policies and targets necessary for microgeneration to be available to all.”

Martyn Williams, Senior Parliamentary Campaigner for Friends of the Earth added: “Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces. The measures contained in these bills would play significant role in getting the UK’s failing climate strategy back on track. If the Government is serious about fighting global warming it must ensure that both these initiatives become law.”

Ron Bailey, Parliamentary Adviser to the Sustainable Energy Partnership said: “These Bills are vital if we are to meet CO2 reduction targets. Measures to set statutory targets for microgeneration are key to ensuring mass production, thereby halving the price and making it available to all with a short pay back period. They will also help to tackle fuel poverty in areas off gas mains and in hard to heat homes”.

For further information contact Jane Vaus on 020 7924 0795 or 077480 10447 or at jane.vaus@btinternet.com.

NOTES:

The Bills are being launched in Committee Room 17 in the House of Commons, LONDON. SW1A OAA at 13.30-14.30 on Tuesday 18th October 2005.

Text of the Bills can be found at

They are both scheduled for Second Reading on Friday 11th November. The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill - Mr Mark Lazarowicz, supported by Dr Alan Whitehead, Mr Andrew Smith, Mr Peter Ainsworth, Mr Frank Doran, Andrew Stunell, Dr Desmond Turner, Mr Mike Weir, Joan Walley, Alan Simpson, Meg Hillier and Colin Challen, will make provision about the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, the alleviation of fuel poverty, the promotion of microgeneration and the introduction of a renewable heat obligation; and for connected purposes. The Management of Energy in Buildings Bill - Dr Alan Whitehead, supported by Mark Lazarowicz, Paddy Tipping, Mr John Denham, Mr Peter Ainsworth, Andrew Stunell, Mr Andrew Robathan, Joan Ruddock, Colin Challen, Annette Brooke, Dr Phyllis Starkey and Martin Salter makes provision about the promotion of renewable and sustainable energy, energy efficiency in buildings and the alleviation of fuel poverty; and for connected purposes.

For further information on:

Association for the Conservation of Energy visit http://www.ukace.org/

Friends of the Earth visit http://www.foe.co.uk/

Mark Lazarowicz and his Bill visit http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/ or contact 020 7219 8222 (Westminster) 07815543826 (mobile)

Dr Alan Whitehead and his Bill visit http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/ or contact 0207 219 5079 (Westminster) or 02380 231 942 (constituency office)