Policy News

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy has outlined its plans for its renewable energy credit system following public consultation. Following unanticipated levels of participation, the department is limiting the amount of credits that co-firing and biomass plants are eligible to produce. The decision was made to reduce the possibility of increased rates for energy consumers…
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Alberta is moving into phase two of its carbon levy and Ontario has expanded its cap and trade market. The moves mirror similarly anti-emissions sentiments in Federal governments. Introduced in 2017, Alberta's carbon tax is being raised from CA$20 to CA$30 per tonne of CO2. In a statement, the Alberta government said that the funds raised would go into improving infrastructure and creating green…
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It will be easier for cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions coming from residential energy use rather than transportation, new research claims. This reduction will happen thanks to more efficient building practices and not greater housing density, the study, published in the Journal of Planning Education and Research, states. The aim of the study was to determine how extensively local…
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A new study has assessed the environmental benefits of various waste-to-energy production pathways which avoid the emission of methane and other harmful pollutants. Methane gas has a global warming impact 30 times higher than carbon. Organic waste such as yard trimmings, paper, wood and food produces millions of tons of methane emissions at landfills in the US each year. The new study, by Uisung…
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The UK government is promising a revolution in the way electricity is made, used and stored. The announcement comes as the UK government promoted its Industrial Strategy. According to the government, consumers in the UK could save billions of pounds when new rule s come into place to make it easier for people to generate their own power with solar panels, store it in batteries and sell it to the…
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The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has passed comment on the energy, climate change and environmental policies outlined in the 2017 general election manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. ADBA chief executive Charlotte Morton was positive about the Conservative party’s continued commitment to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and 2050…
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The Conservative party has published its 2017 manifesto. The pledges on energy and fuel supply from the incumbent party and bookies’ favourite for the upcoming general election paint an ambiguous picture, focusing on the targets and outcomes of energy production rather than the means. “After we have left the European Union, we will form our energy policy based not on the way energy is…
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The UK Labour Party has published its manifesto for the forthcoming General Election, placing significant emphasis on renewable and sustainable energy sources.   Three principles guide the party’s energy policy: security of the energy supply; affordable energy costs for consumers and businesses; meeting climate change targets and transitioning to a low carbon economy.   A key part…
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“Climate change and air pollution threaten our future,” reads the opening of the energy chapter in the Liberal Democrat manifesto, published on 17 May. “But by investing in renewable energy and stopping the waste of energy and natural resources, we can protect our health and the environment, and boost the economy.” The manifesto from Tim Farron’s party makes a number…
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The UK’s largest renewables trade body has set out its ‘Manifesto for Growth’ at the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow. Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association (REA), says a low-cost, low carbon energy system provides huge opportunities for the UK, but the government has to provide clear direction for industry. “All elections have themes, and as…
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SBP has announced that a further four Certification Bodies have been accepted as applicants and are now able to progress towards achieving SBP-approved status. The applicant Certification Bodies are: Forest Certification, KPMG Performance Registrar, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and SGS. The SBP Framework of standards and processes enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source…
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