INFORM
Policy Tracker
in association with the Environmental
The latest reports and developments in environmental
Industries Commission’s Envirotech News
policy, regulation, legislation and voluntary initiatives www.eic-uk.co.uk • 020 7935 1675
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
energy supplies while protecting vulnerable
ZERO-CARBON NEW NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS households. The Bill includes:
Details: DCLG has launched a consultation on Options for ■ mandatory social price support for vulnerable
Zero-Carbon New Non-Domestic Buildings. The households, such as electricity bill rebates
consultation is also inviting comments on a prelimi- ■ the inclusion of guidelines for carbon emissions
nary scoping impact assessment paper. The reduction and secure energy supplies in Ofgem’s
Government has set a target for all new non-domes- assessments of consumer interest
tic buildings to be zero carbon from 2019, with pub- ■ giving Ofgem additional powers against market
lic sector buildings zero carbon by 2018. The consul- exploitation where companies might take
tation sets out proposals for working towards this advantage of electricity transmission constraints
target. Responses to a DCLG December 2008 con- Information: decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/energybill
sultation, Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and /energybill.aspx
Non-Domestic Buildings, recognised the case for
regulation. However, in the light of current econom-
FINANCE
ic conditions, the current consultation aims to look BIS LAUNCHES FORUM FOR A JUST TRANSITION
at the costs and potential consequences of such Details: The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills
regulation on economic recovery for the construc- has created the Forum for a Just Transition,
tion sector. designed to ensure the opportunities and
Timeline: consultation deadline is 24 February 2010 challenges of moving to a low-carbon economy
Information: communities.gov.uk/publications/ are shared equally around the UK. The Forum was
planningandbuilding/newnondomesticconsult first mentioned in the Government’s Low Carbon
Industrial Strategy (LCIS) in July. The Forum is
CARBON REDUCTION
intended to facilitate discussion and provide advice
NEW SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDANCE TO GAS & to ministers on strategic issues, to ensure a fair dis-
ELECTRICITY MARKETS AUTHORITY tribution of costs and benefits across the economy
Details: DECC has launched statutory guidance to the Gas from the transition to a low-carbon economy, and
and Electricity Markets Authority on the contribution provide oversight on the delivery of the LCIS.
it should make towards attaining the Government’s Information: berr.gov.uk/files/file52002.pdf
social and environmental policies. This follows a NEW LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGY FUNDING
consultation by DBERR which ran to 26 September Details: Around £200M extra funding was announced in the
2008. The revised guidance is designed to ensure Government’s Pre-Budget Report for the Strategic
that the Authority makes a contribution on policies Investment Fund (SIF), used to strengthen the
including carbon emissions and fuel poverty. capacity of technologies in innovation, job creation
Information: decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ and growth. The additional £200M brings the SIF
soc_env_guide/soc_env_guide.aspx total allocation to £950M.
SIX DECC DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS Information: ukbudget.com
Details: DECC has published six draft National Policy NEW BIS AUTOMOTIVE COUNCIL
Statements to guide planning decisions on energy
infrastructure. The draft National Policy Statements
TRANSPORT
(NPSs) set out the Government’s plans for a low-car- Details: The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills
bon, secure energy mix and the transition to clean has announced a new Automotive Council to
coal. They are designed to remove planning delays address the long-term strategic challenges facing
facing large energy proposals. They will form the the UK car industry. The Council is a response to a
basis on which individual planning decisions are report by the New Automotive Innovation and
made from March 2010 by the new Infrastructure Growth Team which argued that the industry needs
Planning Commission. They argue that decisions on to maximise the opportunities presented by the
proposals bigger than 50MW (or 100MW for off- low-carbon agenda.
shore wind) will be reduced to one year. Information: berr.gov.uk/files/file53570.pdf
Timeline The Energy National Policy Statements will be sub-
ject to a 15-week consultation between the 9
ABOUT THE EIC
November and the 22 February.
The Environmental Industries Commission works to provide the environmental
Information: energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk
technology and services (ETS) industry with a strong and effective voice with
NEW ENERGY BILL government in the debate about how to ensure that British companies succeed in a
Details: DECC has introduced a new Energy Bill to follow on
rapidly growing worldwide market. With more than 330 company members, the EIC is
from the Low Carbon Transition Plan by outlining
the lead trade association for the ETS industry. For a free copy of EIC’s Envirotech
News, email info@eic-uk.co.uk
actions which will cut emissions and maintain secure
14 February 2010 ❘ Sustainable Business
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