The UK Green Building Council {UK-GBC} has claimed the government`snational renewable energy strategy, released yesterday {26 June}, is`the moment Gordon Brown got serious` on renewables.The blueprint, designed to slash the UK`s fossil fuel dependency andhelp Britain meet its proposed 15 per cent renewable energy target by2020, was unveiled by Business Secretary John Hutton as a `new chapterin Britain`s history`.The strategy proposes:• raising the renewables obligation to ensure 30-35 per cent of our electricity comes from renewable sources;• introducing new financial incentives to encourage a `very large` increase in renewable heat in homes and other buildings; and• offering financial support for heat and electricity microgenerationtechnologies in all buildings – potentially via feed-in tariffs.UK-GBCchief executive Paul King said: `The strategy rightly recognises themassive potential for a range of technologies to help meet our climatechange goals. `Some will say the targets are too challenging, but this is theright level of effort at the right time. It should also create jobs andspur growth in green industries.` He added: `The Prime Minister`s plans for a renewed push on energyefficiency might not sound as exciting as renewables, but it is hugelyimportant. The cheapest, most secure and most environmentally friendlypolicy is to use less energy in the first place.`Aswell as potentially providing 160,000 new jobs, the government isclaiming the new strategy will deliver 4,000 new onshore wind farms aswell as a 30-fold increase in offshore farms.
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/dailynews/2008/06/government_renewables_strategy_gets_serious_on_fossil_fuel_dependency.html;jsessionid=675AEA2ACFC6643E8E3E4C09CCBB9357