Liberal Democrat Climate Change Network

Councillor mileage allowance

2010-03-03T01:57:00.000-08:00

At its budget setting meeting on 25th March, Blaby District Council took the courageous step of limiting the mileage rate for Councillors using their cars on Council business to 40p/mile. This compares with the agreed national rates for Council staff of 42.9p for engines up to 999cc, 47.7p for engines up to 1199cc and 60.1p for engines above 1200cc.
The amazing think was that the the new rates were proposed by the Conservative cabinet as part of their cost saving initiatives for the new financial year. The proposal was enthusiastically supported by the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council.
Blaby District Council runs an all party Climate Change Group, which is looking at all energy use in Council activities. The first response when the question of mileage rates was raised was that the Council was bound by national agreements. However the (Conservative) Cabinet lead member for the Environment followed this up and found that the Council could make its own decision.
The big challenge now is to persuade all staff to follow the Councillors lead and accept a lower mileage rate. It may be that this will have to be done over a number of years to allow staff members to switch to cars with lower running costs and of course lower emissions.
The Council is also working on a 'Travel to Work' plan. Early analysis shows that over 75% of staff travel to work by car alone. There is still some way to go to formulate a policy and again it should be introduced progressively so that staff have time to adjust. Watch this space for developments.

85% reduction in emission from homes

2010-02-07T14:05:00.001-08:00

Camden and Islington Councils organised a conference to highlight the massive reductions in energy use in homes that can be gained by using Passivhaus technology developed in Germany over 20 years ago. The saving can be 85% and this will go a long way to achieving the Government Code Level 6 target of zero carbon homes. Simon Hughes the keynote speaker at teh Conference strongly supported the technology and urged Councils to included the passivhaus standard in their planning documents. Over 160 architects, planners, builders and Councillors attended the Conference which was supported by the Building Research Establishment, Inbuilt Ltd, Passivehaus Buildings and WARM.
In spite of the fact that the Government has issued 'guidelines' for its Code Level Targets for housebuilding, they do not seem to have made any attempt to promote Passivehaus or any other low energy house technology, prefering to leave the industry to promote it. Understandably, industry is reluctant to move without a definite steer from Government, which it is not getting.
Liberal Democrat Councils, like Cambridge, are stepping into the breech and are beginning to incorporate these kinds of technologies into their planning regulations, in the teeth of opposition from the industry and the Government's own inspectors.

Third Time Lucky?

2010-02-02T01:15:00.000-08:00

The Government having not done very well with two recent energy saving programmes (zero-carbon homes and replacement boilers) are hoping that they will be third time lucky with the newly announced renewables programme. They appear to be offering up to 36p/kWh (notice the up to) as a feed in tariff for solar panels plus an extra 6p for anything fed into the grid. As the solar insolation in winter is only one fifth of that in summer over the UK, it looks like most of the power will be fed into the grid in summer when the demand on the system in lowest, but then you can't have everything. The Renewable Energy Association and the Wind Energy Association are pleased, Consumer Groups and Friends of the Earth are not so pleased.
Liberal Democrat Councils will evaluate the potential of the scheme for their areas and inform residents fully of the benefits and drawbacks. Those Councils with planning functions will assess how they build renewable schemes into their planning policies if they have not already done so.

Another Almost a Waste of Time

2010-01-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

A government scheme to promote 'zero carbon' house design and construction has resulted in only 24 approvals since its launch in 2007. The proposal was to scrap all stamp duty on homes up to £500k if they were designed and constructed for 'zero carbon' emissions.
This is yet another example of the Labout Government putting spin before substance. The scheme was launched as usual to a fanfare and has produced a very small result.
Presumably the aim was to encourage innovative design and construction of homes and enable developers to try a number of different schemes to evaluate them for cost effectiveness. A very laudable aim, but hopeless implementation.
What chance is there of all homes being 'carbon free' by 2016 which is the government's target? Very little I imagine. In fact the targets set for carbon emission reduction in new homes is still not enshrined in building regulations and Local Authorities which have tried to impose them have been fought by developers. Only Liberal Democrat run Councils are challenging the building industry, stipulating emission reduction targets in any meaningful way and attempting to co-ordinate targets to set developers a level playing field.

New boilers for old

2010-01-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

As usual, the Government is great on announcements, poor on delivery. It's a good initiative to subsidise the installation of new efficient boilers for old inefficient ones. Unfortunately the amount of funding is only enough to benefit a very small proportion of the installed boilers in the UK and this has led to a rush to find out more information and the relevant page of the Energy Saving Trust web site crashing. In addition the industry representative from the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors has said that the resources of their members will be overstretched for a short time, then it will all go dead.
Its clear that the Government did not listen to what the industry said about the scheme. In any case it should have been rolled out through local authorities not the EST, but this Government has totally refused to give any powers of action (as distinct from Scrutiny) to local authorities. Only the Liberal Democrats will do that.
This is just one small sign of Government incompetence on teh green agenda. If you want a really big one, look no further than the proposals to generate 25% of our electrictiy from off-shore wind by 2020. There is no industry to deliver it and no thought has been given to the masses of electricity which will be sloshing round an electricity grid which has been developed on a model of large power stations consistently pushing power in one direction to users. What a mess!

Is your Council paying people to pollute?

2009-12-22T01:22:00.000-08:00

Is your Council paying people to pollute? I know my Council is. The milage rates paid to employees (and Councillors) on my local Council for casual users are:- 451-999cc - 42.9p/m; 1000-1199cc - 47.7p/m and above 1200cc - 60.1p/m. So the bigger the engine, the more CO2 emitted and the more people are paid. I'm asssured by our officers that these are the nationally agreed rates, although this has not stopped us paying a generous milage rate for those who cycle.
The first question is - 'Is there any Council out there which pays a fixed rate irrespective of engine size or a LOWER milage allowance for bigger engines?'
I would like to suggest that LibDem Councils propose a change to this system when they are next up for national negotiation. As a starter may I propose that for the next 3 years all casual users are paid at the same mean rate. In this way users with small cars will benefit and big car users will be penalised. From year 4 onwards, all milage payments should be based on CO2 emissions of the vehicle, with the milage rate INCREASING, the lower the emission and vice versa.
In the interests of fairness, the TOTAL amount of milage paid out should reflect the TOTAL cost of all casual car usage for a Council.

LibDems and the Age of Stupid

2009-11-27T03:45:00.000-08:00

I submitted this Blog to LibDem Voice, but they ignored it. They thought a spat about the Tory Christmas card was more important! I stuck to their rules as well by not putting it here first. So here it is now:-
A group of talented people calling themselves Team Stupid have produced a film called 'The Age of Stupid' where someone living in a future world devasted by climate change looks back at the stupidity of today's politicians. The film was direct by Franny Armstrong and starred Pete Postlethwaite. In March this year the film was shown to an audience which included Ed Miliband, the Climate Change minister. He subsequently attended a meeting with Team Stupid at which Franny proposed to him that the UK should reduce emissions by 10% in 2010. Miliband took no notice but these artist folk went on with it anyway. they set up a web site www.1010uk.org and started campaigning.
Nick Clegg and Simon Hughes supported the campaign. LibDem groups in 4 'Core Cities' Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle have committed to it and Simon Hughes now has a list of 20 LibDem Councils, representing 3.5m people, committed as well. However, it's no surprise that when Simon proposed that Parlaiment sign up government departments to take part, Labour should reject his proposal.
its really exciting that a group of artists and a film maker should have made an impact in such a short time. All LibDems should be campaigning on this. I really hope that all LibDem run Councils sign up to 10:10 and really make it happen. All LibDem opposition groups should follow Simon's lead and put a motion to their Councils. I have begun a web site to help LibDem Councils to work together on Climate Change issues www.libdem-ccn.org.uk. Let's really go for this and show that 'Only the Liberal Democrats have the principles, the policies and the political will to act on Climate Change.'

2009-11-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

Dieter Helm, Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Oxford, writing in today's Times has produced a brilliant and devastating critique of the Government's energy policy, or to be more precise, none policy.
Professor Helm explains clearly how at least 30 years of Thatcherite free market energy policy has produced a situation where, but for the current recession, we would have seen the UK experiencing power cuts in the next few years, and we may still do.
Politically he shows how short termism has produced very poor decision making, in a sector where short term decisions can be made, but are meaningless for the timescales required for industry to react. I remember the privatisation of the electricity supply industry, the irresponsible use of north sea oil and gas to keep down taxes, the 'dash for gas' and the total abdication from any form of sensible and long term energy policy on the basis that 'the market will provide' culminating in the infamous statement by Nigel Lawson, 'Our energy policy is that we have no policy'.
As Professor Helm says in his article 'Nuclear alone won't keep the Power Flowing', that recent decisions have been the traditional 'one-off' about wind, about clean coal, about nuclear power. The policy he says 'is a mess'. The result will be high cost and low impact.
He concludes ' The bad news comes if we carry on as we are. Present energy policy will be very expensive. As capacity margins tighten, long before the lights go out, prices will rise. Higher prices are the real consequence of inadequete investment'.
What solution does Professor Helm propose? First a fair and consistent Carbon Tax and second to sort out how to ensure that the correct investment is made into a diversity of fuel supplies.

I make no apology for quoting the good Professor at length. Almost his every word is what I believe and I'm rather jealous that he has been able to articulate the arguments much better than I ever could.

ONLY THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have the principles and the commitment to put forward a sensible, long term energy policy which encompasses, security, cost and climate change issues. Simon Hughes should consult Professor Helm immediately, that is if he has not already done so.

massive German initiative on solar power

2009-11-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

The world's largest reinsurer Munich Re is taking the effects of climate change seriously and is leading a consortium of German companies to promote large solar powerplant in north Africa. The consortium has put together a £250bn plan to build the plants and install HVDC cables across the Mediterrean to pipe the power to Europe. Unlike drilling for oil, solar power once installed will continue to provide power until it needs replacing. All oil wells on the other hand run out eventually. The technology has been demonstrated in the US and there are 50MW plants operating in Spain. Companies involved with Munich Re are Siemens, E.ON ABB and Deutsch Bank. The renewables component of Europe's energy needs can be provided by solar power from north Africa and wind, wave and tidal from the northern latitudes. This is going to need a major re-organisation and integration of the electricity grid network across the EU.
According to the Guardian, Dan Lewis, head of Economic Policy Centre said "This long term project just cannot be delivered by the short term targets in the UK."
Only the Liberal Democrats have the climate change policies which can provide the UK with the sensible, steady shift to renewables, conservation and clean coal which is absolutely necessary to tackle global warming and ensure energy security in the future.

Simon Hughes 10:10 Motion to Parliament

2009-10-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Simon Hughes submitted a proposal to Parliament that all government and public agencies commit to a 10% reduction of their emissions in 2010. According to reports a large number of labour MPs objected to the motion.
Whatever the final outcome at national level, Simon is encouraging LibDem led Councils to commit to the 10:10 target. If your Council has committed, please add a comment to this Blog.
The aim should not only be to save the 10% within each Council but also to work together to reduce costs and have a greater overall impact.

Plenty of Climate Change reports

2009-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

1. ofgem hit the headlines last Friday with predictions that energy prices could rise by as much as 60% in the next few years. According to their analysis, £200bn will have to be spent in the next few years to secure energy supplies and meet carbon targets.
Today, the Guardian has usefully printed the graph showing the UK running out of electricity in 2015, something that is well known in the industry. The graph was part of an article about nuclear power stations, which even on the best estimates will not be operational until 2017. The way things are going it looks as if its going to be PM Nick Clegg who will take the blame!
The reason for the massive investment needed is that the UK has followed Thatcherite economic policies for the last 30 years. As far as the energy industry is concerned this means privatisation, sweating the existing investments and draining the north sea of oil and gas to keep taxes down. Only the Liberal Democrats are going to be able to unite the country to turn this round.
2. The Committee on Climate Change took a more short term view in their report. As usual they list all the actions we need to be taking to tackle climate change and their uninspiring conclusion is that it will happen only if "the Government acts immediately to implement radical policies", something that endless Committees have been advocating since the first oil shock in 1973

The shambles that is UK energy policy

2009-10-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday The Guardian had an excellent series of articles which demontrated the chaotic state of the Government's energy policy.
1. An article on wind power started off in a positive way showing that the Government's strategy on wind power is encouraging Companies like Siemens to consider investing in a wind turbine manufacturing facility in the UK. It then went on to contrast these plans with what is actually happening in Sweden and Denmark. 20% of Denmark's electricity comes from wind, Sweden has a 110MW off-shore wind farm in operation. by contrast, in the UK we have big, big plans! We have 'plans' for the biggest off-shore wind farm in the world!! The already approved London Array is dogged by worries about simple things like who will build and pay for the undersea cables to bring the power ashore, and worries that the whole project will be undermined by the Government's investment in Nuclear Power. It could be that the UK will have a first - an off-shore wind farm built and operational with no means of getting the power ashore!

2. The Government is consulting on small scale renewable energy. They will undoubtably bring forward a 'strategy' followed by an 'action plan' and an 'implementation plan' I predict they will all be excellent. A consortium of groups has recommended subsidies to promote solar power for households. The Liberal Democats should support this wholeheartedly.

3. And now for the 'short term' stuff. The Government's indecision about new coal plants and nuclear plants means that we are heading for an electricity shortage and blackouts. Experts are not agreed on the date, but it looks to be between 2014 and 2016. It is now too late to fill this potential gap with coal or nuclear, they just cannot be build in time. So if the gap is to be filled, it will have to be natural gas fired combined cycle plant. Natural gas is a lot cleaner than coal and emits far less CO2/kWh, but what will happen to the price of gas in the UK. According to the third article in The Guardian, the government has not planned for increased storage of gas as north sea supplies run down. The UK has only 16 day's worth of stored gas, compared with 91 days in France (and they use nuclear for most of their electricty production). It does not take a genius to guess what gas suppliers will do when we go cap in hand to as for more gas for our new combined cycle plant!

Lib Dem Climate Change Network

2009-09-26T02:29:00.000-07:00

Only the Liberal Democrats have the will and the means to effect the climate change agenda in the UK. Liberal Democrat Councils will be strong enough by working together to improve energy conservation and introduce renewable energy in the areas of the Country they control or where they have influence. There already is a lot going on and Simon Hughes has taken the intiative to bring together what is already happening. The next important step is for Councils to work together to effect change and provide a substial market for Companies in the conservation and renewables sectors.
This Blog has been started to assist in this process. Please contribute.