A bill to improve energy efficiency in British homes and businesses was announced today as part of the Queen’s Speech, but it remains to be seen if other low carbon coalition pledges will be addressed by the legislation.
This morning, the Queen announced the Coalition Government’s
legislative programme for the next 18 months, which amounted to 22 bills including one on
energy and the green economy – but just how far reaching the
bill will be still remains unclear.
This afternoon, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) confirmed the bill would include the implementation of a '
Green Deal’ to deliver
energy efficiency to homes and businesses through a 'Pay As You Save’ scheme. It will allow householders and businesses to take out loans to pay for energy efficiency improvements and repay the loans through the energy savings made on their bills. DECC said it would deliver "a framework, including potential incentives to energy suppliers and households that will transform the provision of energy efficiency in the UK".
However, DECC said it was still looking at how other key green pledges, such as the creation of a Green Investment Bank and a smart grid – already outlined in coalition administration’s 'programme for Government’ last week – will be taken forward.
In a statement, it said the bill "would deliver a national programme of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses" but would only go so far as to say it "may also introduce powers to regulate the emissions from coal-fired power stations, reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition, and put in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionise the management of supply and demand for electricity."
Government still committed to delivering green policy priorities
A spokesperson for DECC said the Coalition Government was still committed to delivering the
green policy priorities as set out in last week’s programme for Government, but was still working out what needed primary legislation and what didn’t in order to be implemented.
"We’ve clearly set out our priorities for Government. We are looking at the detail of all of these priorities and how to implement them," he said. However, he did not provide a timeframe on how quickly some of these priorities would be looked at and dealt with.
Despite the uncertainty over what may or may not be included in the bill, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne, today reiterated the Government’s commitment to tackling climate change and creating a green economy.
"The Queen's Speech and last week's programme of Government make clear that energy security and taking real action to tackle climate change aren't add on extras for this new Government, but are vital to our national interest," he said.
"The Energy bill is designed to help consumers put a stop to wasting energy in their homes through a Green Deal while making sure our energy system is fit for the 21st century."
Bill could block more onshore renewable energy projects
Other bills announced in today’s Queen’s Speech that could have an impact on the UK’s move to a low carbon economy include a decentralisation and localisation bill, which will give local councils more control over housing and planning and could affect onshore renewable energy projects, and a public bodies bill, which promises to abolish a number of non-department Government bodies and limit the powers of other quangos, some of which could have low carbon delivery objectives.
A draft bill on the construction of high-speed
rail line was also announced today.
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