Press Release

28.04.2010

Renewable energy targets for councils on the election agenda

Labour announces intention to impose renewable energy targets on local authorities in an

attempt to overcome Tory wind farm opposition, reports Envido.

Climate change came back into the election agenda as a live issue yesterday when the three main
parties argued over each other's credentials for fighting global warming with special attention to
renewable energy.

Energy and climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, revealed yesterday plans to impose renewable
energy targets designed to overcome council level opposition to renewable energy projects such as
wind farms.

Miliband blamed Conservative councils for the UK's relatively poor record on renewable energy to
date arguing that they were consistently guilty of blocking plans for onshore wind farms. He added
that a new Labour government would place a greater obligation on local authorities to deliver
renewable energy projects, by ensuring they have to meet specific targets.

Councils to deliver 15% of its energy from renewable energy by 2020

Miliband said that if elected Labour would impose a target similar to the UK's over arching target to
deliver 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020 on local councils. Councils would still have the
freedom to reject renewable energy projects they regarded as inappropriate, but they would have to
play an active role in meeting the UK's overall renewables target.

Tory shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark refused to commit the Conservatives
to local renewable energy targets. He said that while the party supported legally-binding renewable
energy targets for the whole country, regional targets could potentially undermine the democratic
planning system.

Lib Dem energy and climate change spokesman Simon Hughes said councils should "absolutely" be
obliged to meet renewable energy targets. He added that Lib Dem councils took six of the top 10
spots in a league table of councils' renewable energy performance and had a record of pioneering
environmental policies at a local level.

Darren Johnson, prospective Green Party candidate for Deptford and Lewisham, also present in the
debate, said that the Greens had the most ambitious proposals for delivering an increase in
renewable energy capacity through its plans to invest over £40bn in low carbon infrastructure.

Nuclear power is one of the starkest differences, with the Labour Government and the Tories
embracing it as part of a low-carbon future because it produces virtually no carbon emissions in
generating electricity. Whereas, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens are prevalent against new
nuclear power stations contemplated by other parties, and support only renewable energy projects.