Renewables vital for Green energy policy
27 March 2006
The Green Party has welcomed the latest report from the British Wind EnergyAssociation (1) indicating that up to 5% of the UK's electricity needs can be metby onshore wind by 2010.
Green Party energy spokesperson Tom Tibbits commented:
"This report adds to the evidence that a growing share of our projectedenergy requirements can be powered by renewable sources. A sustainableenergy policy with less energy wastage will lower overall demand and couldsee the contribution of renewable energy grow even more quickly. Bydeveloping renewable energy with no fuel costs, we are actually protectingthe UK against the economic havoc that high and volatile energy prices canwreak. (2)"
"This is further evidence that there is no need to replace our aging andexpensive nuclear power stations as they are decommissioned. If we showgreater ambition in energy saving measures, lifting low income householdsout of fuel poverty, we can move a safe and secure energy policy forward."
"There are practical ways in which the UK can reduce energy waste andinefficiencies. For example, if all incandescent electric lightbulbs were tobe replaced by more energy efficiency bulbs, the energy savings would equateto the output of a medium sized power station (3). A small charge oninefficient incandescent bulbs would have consumers vote with theirwallets."
"Further practical measures supported by the Green Party include increasinguse of micro-generation of domestic energy supply, ventilation heatexchangers andimproved domestic insulation which goes beyond the limited targets announcedin the recent budget. The recent report from the Sustainable EnergyCommissionrecommended investment in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Power generationas the way forward for the UK's energy needs. (4)
Check out the Green Energy Works site for more information on alternativesources of energy in the UK - www.greenenergyworks.org.uk
ENDS
Notes for editors
(1) www.bwea.com(2)www.eci.ox.ac.uk(3) www.greenparty.org.uk(4) www.sd-commission.org.uk
