The government pledged to restrict fracking in national parks, yet in July it reneged on it’s pre-election promise to protect the thousands of wildlife sites in the UK. Nearly 300 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), home to rare animals and plants, have now been opened up to fracking by the Tory government. This is a far […]
New fast-track process for fracking applications
A new process has been set up for fracking applications to ensure that the government can fast-track appeals without lengthy decision-making. The measures include identifying councils, which repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within the 16-week statutory timeframe, with subsequent applications potentially decided by the communities secretary. We’re rather bemused by the decision […]
Renewable energy investment is the only way to hit carbon targets
National Grid have released their Future Energy Scenarios, which lists maximum deployment of renewable technologies as the only solution to meeting carbon reduction targets set by the EU. National Grid said its Gone Green pathway is “the only scenario to achieve all renewable and carbon targets on time”, supplying 34% of the UK’s electricity by […]
Fracking to begin in Scotland?
Despite the SNP’s vehement opposition to fracking throughout the election campaign, it appears they’ve done a u-turn, with fracking companies lining up to start exploring Scotland. Mr Ratcliffe, whose company owns exploration licences across more than 700 square miles of Scotland, said: “The Scottish government . . . has said to us they’re not against fracking. But what they do need […]
Clean energy means rising bills for consumers
It’s not good news for consumers with energy bills set to rise due to failing renewable energy schemes. Under the previous coalition government, consumers and businesses were encouraged to produce renewable energy and guaranteed a subsidy for doing so. The subsidies were paid for by a “levy” on household energy bills, which was meant to […]
New energy bill to be implemented
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has taken her first steps towards reforming energy legislation by announcing plans in the House of Lords. The Energy Bill will set out the plans for onshore wind farms, new schemes and local council involvement. Rudd has given local communities the power to veto planning propositions to ensure residents have “the […]
Renewables no longer exempt from CCL announces Osborne
The summer budget has been released and while many businesses will be rejoicing at lower corporation taxes and a fuel duty price freeze, they won’t be as happy to see that renewable energy is no longer exempt from Climate Change Levies (CCL). Check out the official government document here. Suppliers will now have to pay […]
Lancashire veto fracking application
Cuadrilla are reeling from the rejection of their fracking application as Lancashire county council put an end to their shale gas exploration plans. Safe to say that the locals were delighted with the news as more than half of the councillors vetoed the application due to it’s potential impact on the landscape and noise pollution. […]
Wind farm subsidy cuts threaten job losses
The “renewables obligation” subsidy will be closed to onshore wind farms from April next year instead of 2017. As the government ends subsidies earlier than expected, it’s feared that thousands of jobs will be lost. There’s also anger that the new government aren’t taking renewable energy pledges as seriously as they ought to. Maria McCaffery, […]
UK fracking hits more roadblocks
So the USA has overtaken Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and gas. US shale production has increased sevenfold in the last few years despite lower global demand this year. “We are truly witnessing a changing of the guard of global energy suppliers. The implications of the shale revolution are profound,” said Spencer […]