Councils to be allowed to sell renewable power
As part of his ambitious plans to create a sustainable low-carbon economy, the Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has written to all local authorities to announce that they are now allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid.
Until now only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewables, despite the scope that exists to install projects on their land and buildings. In Germany the equivalent figure is 100 times higher.
At present local authorities are able to put any renewable electricity they generate to local use, and to benefit from the associated feed-in tariff for projects smaller than 5MW. But they are restricted from selling any excess renewable electricity into the grid.
The steps that are now being taken could mean up to £200m a year in income for local authorities across England and Wales.
This is good news. Sensible, green, and putting power in the hands of locally electable and accountable councillors. I’d like to see more like this. It’s a shame that at the moment the Tories’ big idea of the “Big Society” seems to bypass Councils altogether, but hopefully the Lib Dem influence on the coalition can be positive and change things for the better as its doing here.
Rick
Volunteer
Help in election
Report a problem
Join Us
Your views
Register to vote
Postal vote
Email updates