A Matter of Responsibility | Green Energy News

February 10, 2002 – Vol.6 No.46

A MATTER OF RESPONSIBILITY.

President Bush wants the United States to delay its responsibility for slowing global warming, yet close ally the United Kingdom is planning to double its efforts to combat the problem.

The Performance and Innovation Unit, a British government think-tank set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair, has recommended that the country’s Renewable Obligation should increase from the current 10 percent of power to be generated by renewables by 2010 to 20 percent by 2020.

Under the original plan as set last year, a wide range of renewable power can be developed to meet the Obligation - small hydropower stations, on and off shore wind power, ocean energy, solar photovoltaic energy, biomass and energy crops, landfill or sewer gas projects and non-fossil waste-to-energy plants (but not incineration facilities)

The new PIU report also says that U.K. should keep its options open regarding new investment in cleaner coal or nuclear power. Legislative plans for the expansion of renewables will be published later this year. For the latest version of the Renewable Obligation visit the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry at http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/consultations.htm