CALL TO END SCOTLAND'S HOME RENEWABLES RED TAPE - Friends of the Earth Scotland

CALL TO END SCOTLAND'S HOME RENEWABLES RED TAPE

24 October 2007
Topics: Renewables

Friends of the Earth and Scottish micro-generation industry lobby for change
in planning rules

*Photo opportunity: 10:00 hours at Scottish Parliament

Scottish Ministers need to simplify the process of installing renewable
energy equipment on homes and businesses if the public are to be able to
make a significant contribution to tackling climate change. [1] This was the
message conveyed today (Thursday 25 October) by environmental charity
Friends of the Earth Scotland.

To illustrate their point the group were joined by renewable industry
organisations outside the Scottish Parliament with a pair of giant scissors
cutting through red tape binding a solar panel and wind turbine. A letter
has also been sent to Minister Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport,
Infrastructure and Climate Change. [2]

Friends of the Earth Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to follow
the findings of a recent Government-commissioned study which said that
people should be free to install micro-generation, such as solar panels,
without having to apply for planning permission [3].

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Greener Homes Officer, Liz Murray, said:

"We have previously convinced Scottish Ministers of the need for planning
rules to ensure that micro-generation is installed on all new developments
over a certain size. It is now vital that the Government removes the red
tape from the process of fitting micro-generation to existing buildings, so
that they can generate clean, green energy onsite."

Chas Booth, Parliamentary Officer for the Association for the Conservation
of Energy [4], said:

"Micro-generation has a key role to play in reducing climate change
emissions from buildings and we urge Ministers to move swiftly to cut the
red tape that presently prevents consumers who want to play their part.
Ministers should act on the findings of their own study and give a range of
micro-generation technologies General Permitted Development status."

Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council [5] said:

"The micropower industry has an important part to play in Scotland's fight
against climate change. It also has the potential to play an important part
in Scotland’s economy. Planning rules, as they stand, are putting an
unnecessary obstacle into the path of householders wanting to install
micropower. The Scottish Government has the power to remove this obstacle
and we urge them to take action to do that."

Friends of the Earth Scotland is campaigning for the increased use of
micropower and energy efficiency in order to combat climate change.

FoES is campaigning for:

* tighter building regulations to ensure that buildings waste less energy;
* simpler planning rules to make installation of micropower easier;
* better grant funding to bring the cost down;
* developers to install micropower as standard in all new homes; and
* the Scottish Executive to set ambitious targets for small-scale renewable
energy generation across Scotland.

For more details on this work:

http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/micropower.html

ENDS

NOTE TO PICTURE DESKS:

The 'cutting of the red tape' photo opportunity will be outside the Scottish
Parliament between 10:00 and 10:30 am on Monday 1 October.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

[1] Micro-renewables/micro-generation/micropower refers to small scale
renewable energy devices (e.g. solar panels) that can be fitted to houses,
public buildings and businesses.

According to research by the Energy Saving Trust, by 2050 the UK could see
30-40% of its power coming from micro-renewables. The report: "Potential for
Micro-generation study and analysis", was carried out to feed into the DTI's
Low Carbon Buildings programme as well as wider policy for micro-generation.

Beginner's guide to micropower: http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/micropower

[2] A copy of the letter is available on request.

[2] Scottish Ministers commissioned research from Heriot Watt University on
all the types of development covered in the General Permitted Development
Order.

The General Permitted Development Order is part of the Town and Country
Planning Act and lays out what additions or alterations can be carried out
to a building without planning permission.

That research was received early in 2007 and concluded that General
Permitted Development status should be extended to a range of
micro-renewable technologies.

Full report: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/29102736/0

See: 7.8 MICROGENERATION (NEW PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT)

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/29102736/9

[3] The Association for the Conservation of Energy was formed in 1981 by a
number of major companies active within the energy conservation industry.

ACE exists to reduce overall energy demand to ensure a secure and
sustainable energy future. It does this through lobbying, campaigning and
carrying out research to achieve sensible and consistent policy, legislation
and targets; by raising a positive awareness of energy conservation and by
encouraging increased investment in all appropriate energy saving measures.

http://www.ukace.org

[4] The Micropower Council was launched in April 2004, and includes all the
large trade associations and a number of leading companies with interests in
microgeneration in the UK. It acts as the industry’s main contact point for
government, opinion formers, the press, and the public.

http://www.micropower.co.uk

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