Solar energy firm Mark Group has announced over 900 redundancies, and it lays the blame on the doorstep of No. 11: “We are extremely disappointed that the draconian policy proposals made by the government in August will essentially eliminate the solar PV market in the UK and have made our plans…Read more…
We are the builders, Mr Chancellor
On Saturday in Hackney we celebrated the launch at Banister House of the largest community solar power scheme on a housing estate in the UK. But instead of a pathfinder, Banister House may be the last of its kind, because of the Chancellor’s planned 87% cut in support for renewable energy projects….Read more…
UN edges towards union calls for Just Transition in Paris deal
The UN has adopted union calls for a Just Transition in a new 20-page negotiating text released today for the climate conference scheduled for Paris in December. Unions will be pleased that the UN’s Draft Agreement commits nations to holding global temperature increases to below 2 °C (or possibly…Read more…
Government holding back development of world leading low-carbon industrial zone
The great industrial and power centres in Yorkshire and the Humber’s Aire Valley have the potential to become Europe’s leading low-carbon industrial zone – but only if government unblocks its opposition to renewable energy and low carbon technologies. A new TUC report, Strategies for a…Read more…
Government’s moment of truth: will it support UK steel industry?
Today’s disasterous announcement of the closure of SSI’s steel plant, Redcar, with the loss of 1,700 skilled jobs, will cause great hardship to the workers and their families, striking a blow to the heart of UK manufacturing. The government’s laissez faire attitude to industry is in meltdown, along…Read more…
Balancing the Costs and Benefits of Shale Gas Fracking
Should the Government call on an in dependent body, such as the former Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, to undertake an independent evaluation of the costs and benefits of shale gas fracking? The new Conservative Government has picked up wh…Read more…
White Rose: Helping CCS to bloom
Carbon Capture and Storage is critical to meeting climate change targets. Without it decarbonising the economy would cost £32 billion more a year by 2050.
The post White Rose: Helping CCS to bloom appeared first on ToUChstone blog.Read more…
David, David, David, boy!
The government says a key objective of the feed in tariff “is to give people a direct stake in moving to a low carbon economy.” A new video from the Banister House community solar project makes this appeal to the Prime Minister to stop the proposed tariff cuts: “David, David, David, boy!” an intern…Read more…
Cameron attacks unions, while UN climate President talks to us
I’ve just returned from a Corbynesque country, where the State owns and runs the railways and its energy utilities, productivity is 27% higher than in the UK, there’s more annual leave and the top rate of income tax is 45% for earners over £110,000. It’s France, and just yesterday in its…Read more…
Chancellor discarding £33bn solar power industry?
Over 100 organisations have appealed to the Prime Minister over the Chancellor’s plans to cut support for the solar power industry. The government, strangely shy about the employment impact of hazarding a £33bn industry. All DECC will admit to in its consultation paper is: “There is likely…Read more…
Government’s own polls show rising opposition to shale gas fracking
Public support for fracking in the UK has fallen to an all-time low, according to the government’s latest survey of public attitudes towards energy of various kinds – ranging from shale gas and new nuclear to renewables. A clear majority support investment in carbon capture technology. DECC Energy…Read more…
Ten charities challenge Cameron’s pre-election green promise
Leaders of ten leading UK charities concerned with protection of the environment have written to the Prime Minister, alarmed that: “early policy choices being made are running counter to the strong intentions you outlined in your pre-election climate pledges and in your manifesto, to…Read more…
Enter the new kid on the block – a “sustainable free market”
I dont know if we have a climate sceptic Chancellor. But global surface temperature are now passing more than 1 °C of global warming, relative to the second half of the 19th century. Is this the right time for the Treasury to cast out the UK’s ten key green energy policies for an untried,…Read more…
Fossils are go! as Labour hopefuls miss Osborne’s energy omnishambles
Business Green argues today that the government is pushing through without an effective response from Labour’s leadership hopefuls a new energy policy with renewables shoved to the margins. But across the Pond, Hillary Clinton’s pledge to install half a billion solar panels and generate enough…Read more…
Bees or bust
We hear their buzzing drone and we’re enchanted. As we enjoy the site of an amber and black striped bumble on a lavender spike we shouldn’t forget two things: that numbers have fallen and…Read more…
What’s wrong with ISDS? Romania’s environment & history under attack
The latest example of what’s wrong with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) – the privileged route to riches for foreign investors who can persuade a separate international court that they have been disadvantaged by a democratically-elected government – is a case being lodged…Read more…
Chancellor takes the high carbon road
Is the government about to take a series of high carbon decisions that will replace renewables with fossil fuels? Decisions are imminent on Cuadrilla’s fracking appeal, launched today, and Heathrow’s third runway. Meanwhile, the Chancellor is unceremoniously dumping green policies, while assuring…Read more…
‘Green crap’ Tories ban solar and wind energy subsidies
That massive solar power subsidy the Tories want to cut? It costs the average consumer £10 per year on annual electricity and gas bills of £1,338 per year. There is no pledge in the Conservative manifesto to cut support for solar power – but they must have known this was coming. The Energy…Read more…
How Trade Union Bill will cap greenworkplace projects
Growing awareness of the impacts of climate change on our daily lives has spurred union reps and members to explore new ways to “green” their workplace. Just as unionised workplaces offer better pay and safer working conditions, so through employee engagement there is an added Union Effect in…Read more…
Mayday! The helmsman of the green economy is way off course
The Conservative manifesto 2015 said nothing about increasing road taxes. If anything, it implied the opposite: “We will make motoring greener … to protect your environment.” But the Chancellor’s Budgets changes mean that from 2017 a new greener car will cost nearly £1,000 more….Read more…