8th May 2009The House of Commons today took an important step to allow citizens to produce their own sustainable heat and power when it gave a Second Reading to the Green Energy Bill promoted by Peter Ainsworth MP, supported by the Government and front and backbenches of all three main political parties. The Bill, strongly supported by the Micropower Council, the leading body for the promotion of microgeneration, requires the government to produce a further 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:
Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council said: “We are delighted that Parliament once again is pushing the microgeneration agenda, and thank the Minister, 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 on microgeneration, and to the prospect of removing the last serious piece of red tape affecting micro-wind and air source heat pumps. “The government promised to Parliament over a year ago that it would set the noise threshold for these technologies at 45dB, the level recommended by the World Health Organisation to avoid sleep disturbance. Companies have invested considerably and created hundreds of jobs against this promise, so it is crucial that the forthcoming consultation restates this strongly; any failure to do so could see businesses fold, will almost certainly cost jobs and have serious implications for industry’s and its investor’s confidence in government policy on microgeneration.” [1] The bill requires the government only to allow planning permission exemption to those microgeneration installations certified not to cause a night time noise in excess of 45dB(A), the level recommended by the World Health Organisation to avoid sleep disturbance, and the level the government has already committed to (Ian Wright Ministerial Statement to Parliament, 13 March 2008, extracts given below). For further information contact Jane Vaus at jane.vaus@micropower.co.uk NOTES Download the text of the Bill The Green Energy Bill - Mr Peter Ainsworth MP is supported by Martin Caton MP, Colin Challen MP, Greg Clark MP, Andrew Dismore MP, Nick Hurd MP, Oliver Letwin MP, Elliot Morley MP, Alan Simpson MP, Steve Webb MP, Dr Alan Whitehead MP, and Bill Wiggin MP. 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 (CO2), 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. Extracts from Iain Wright’s Ministerial Statement to Parliament, 13 March 2008: “....In due course, the GPDO will incorporate standards to ensure that habitable rooms of any neighbouring residential property are not exposed to an outside noise level exceeding 45 decibels. The noise limit will apply to free-standing wind turbines and those mounted on detached dwellings. Similar provisions will apply to air source heat pumps. The decibel level will be reviewed after two years in the light of conditions prevailing at the time. “I wish to make it clear to the House that it is only the need to provide a satisfactory standard that addresses noise and vibration issues, which then has to go through the legal process mentioned above that prevents the inclusion of wind turbines and air source heat pumps in the Statutory Instrument laid before Parliament today.” For further information on Peter Ainsworth MP and the Bill visit www.peterainsworth.com or email Sam Ibbott or call 0207 219 5151. |
