24-March-20032
Alan
Whitehead backs Sustainable Energy Bill
Energy campaigner Alan Whitehead
will be lending his support to the Sustainable Energy Bill, which calls
for an increased use of renewable energy and more energy efficiency, when
it is debated in the House of Commons on Friday 28 March 2003.
Energy campaigner Alan Whitehead will be lending his support to the Sustainable Energy Bill, which calls for an increased use of renewable energy and more energy efficiency, when it is debated in the House of Commons on Friday 28 March 2003.
Alan Whitehead MP for Southampton Test says,
"This Bill commits government to plan the achievement of targets
for electricity generated from renewable sources, and requires the regulator
to consider how electricity supply takes account of sustainability. We
really need to go down this route if we are to succeed in changing the
way we obtain our electricity supplies. Southampton is in the lead on
this, with the city's geothermal plant, its planned district heating scheme
and proposals for energy saving and generation of solar power. The Bill
will help the city make a leading contribution to future energy sourcing."
The Bill if passed into law would require the publication of an annual progress report on cutting carbon emissions and the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar power and combined heat and power. Greater energy efficiency levels will also form a key section of the Bill with a target of at least 20% energy efficiency by 2010 based on 2002 levels.
Since being elected in 1997 Alan Whitehead has been active in parliament and beyond in promoting more renewable forms of energy such as solar power and combined heat and power. Without a cut in carbon emissions climate change will lead to a rise in sea levels, which would have widespread implications for Southampton.
Southampton has several pioneering energy related projects including the Combined Heat and Power plant in Millbrook and a green housing scheme in Portswood where the homes are powered by solar power.
ENDS
Contact
Mike Collins in the constituency office on 023 8023 1942 or 07855 328914