The Green Party is asking the Council to draw up a costed plan in the next six
weeks to take advantage of Government green energy incentives before they are
reduced from next year.
Under the Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) scheme, energy suppliers pay householders and
communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon
sources such as solar electricity panels or wind turbines. The Renewable Heat
Incentive (RHI) is a similar scheme where the Treasury rewards householders and
organisations for installing renewable heat systems such as solar thermal
panels.
FiT and RHI have been retained in the Comprehensive Spending Review, but tariffs
will be reduced from 2012. The Green Party say they welcome the work done so
far by officers and cabinet Members to explore the opportunities for Sheffield
but point out that unless there is a costed plan by December, it will not get
into the 2011/12 budget.
Leader of the Green Group Jillian Creasy said, “We need to get a scheme is up
and running in 2011 with substantial installations in place by 2012, or else
Sheffield will miss out on potential funding.
“The Council could install solar panels and CHP (combined heat and power) on
council buildings, council housing or privately owned homes, and the energy
cost savings or earnings would come back to council or householders. These
schemes could potentially make money for the council and its citizens, reduce
fuel poverty, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.”
ENDS
Motion proposed by Cllr Creasy, seconded by Cllr Murphy
This council
1. Welcomes the announcement that the Feed in Tariff (FiT) for renewable energy
will continue and that Renewable Heat Incentive will be funded from 2011;
2. Notes that taking advantage of these national schemes could potentially make
money for Sheffield City Council and Sheffield citizens, reduce fuel poverty,
create jobs and reduce carbon emissions;
3. Therefore welcomes the initial work done by officers to explore the
opportunities for Sheffield;
4. Notes however that the FiT will be reviewed in 2012, or even earlier if there
is higher than expected deployment, and that the level of tariff will be
reduced by 9% from that date;
5. Recognises that unless a scheme is up and running in 2011 with substantial
installations in place by 2012, Sheffield will miss out on potential funding;
6. Therefore calls on the Administration to bring costed options for
implementing Sheffield’s response to the Feed in Tariff and Renewable Heat
Incentive schemes to Cabinet by December 2010.
ENDS