DECC completes ministerial line-up with "part-time volunteer"
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has completed its ministerial team, with the appointment of Stafford MP David Kidney as an unpaid junior minister.
Following last week's Cabinet reshuffle, a ministerial reshuffle has seen previous energy minister Mike O'Brien moving on to the Department of Health secretary of state, Ed Miliband, as well as its minister in the Lords, Lord Hunt. The Department's climate change minister, Joan Ruddock, has been promoted to become a full Minister of State.
Owing to the limit on the number of ministerial salaries that can be paid out, Mr Kidney's appointment as parliamentary under secretary of state will not allow him any extra salary on top of his MPs' wage.
Mr Kidney said: "When Gordon Brown rang me with the news there was a sting in the tail. He says there is a limit by law on the number of Ministerial salaries - and he cannot pay me! At least my acceptance shows that I am motivated by the good I can do in this job and not the money."
The precise duties of the relevant ministers are yet to be decided by the Department, but it is currently thought that Lord Hunt will lead the energy brief, possibly assisted by Mr Kidney.
Last year, Lord Hunt was responsible for guiding the Energy Bill and the Climate Change Bill through the House of Lords,while he is currently contending with the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, a measure that will set new rules for developing renewable energy and other projects in UK waters.
Mrs Ruddock's brief is sure to expand to match her new status. But, she is thought likely to keep her climate change brief, which takes on a higher profile with the UN's climate talks in Copenhagen in December and with next year's start for the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Mrs Ruddock was previously a junior minister, having switched from Defra when DECC was created last October. Speaking in Westminster yesterday, Mrs Ruddock, who is MP for Lewisham and Deptford, said: "I may not cover all my predecessor's brief, because we have not yet decided on portfolios and I have some major responsibilities for climate change. We will decide soon what the mix will be, but I am happy to be here."
A spokesman for DECC said today that it could be a few days before ministerial briefs are announced, with the process slowed because Mr Miliband is away on paternity leave.
Mr Kidney, 54, has been an MP since 1997, when he achieved an election victory against the Conservative leader David Cameron, who was at the time the unsuccessful Tory candidate for the Stafford seat.
During his Parliamentary career, he has already had dealings with environmental policy including time as Parliamentary private secretary to the then-environment minister Elliot Morley, in 2005, and the following year the then-environment secretary David Miliband.
Mr Kidney said his appointment as energy minister was a "proud moment" for him, but that the new role would require a "steep learning curve".
He said of his appointment: "I intend to play my part to the full in pressing ahead with the government's ambitious agenda for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases here in the UK as well as encouraging and helping other nations to do the same. I shall also want to give my personal drive to the government's aims of helping individuals and businesses to save energy and cut their energy costs.
Mr Kidney describes himself as a supporter of Port Vale Football Club, but the new minister has also now pledged to support renewable energy.
He said:"I certainly want to promote further development of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, biomass, tidal and wave as well as the workforce skills that we will need for a much expanded renewable energy sector in the future."
Conservative energy spokesman Charles Hendry raised a note of concern yesterday about an energy minister effectively working as a "volunteer".
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Mr Hendry congratulated Mrs Ruddock on her promotion, but as he wished Mr Kidney well in the new ministerial role, he added: "I understand that he will be unpaid and am slightly concerned about having someone holding such an important position as a part-time volunteer.
"Nevertheless, we congratulate him on his promotion to minister," added the Tory MP for Wealden.
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British are "bored" with Climate Change
A new energy report suggests that British people are less environmentally conscious than they were five years ago.
4 out of 10 britons take no action at all to reduce their household carbon emissions, and twice as many people are now "bored" by talk of climate change as in 2005. Experts warn that green fatigue is one of the major reasons as to why there are more cars on the roads, more planes in the sky and no reductions in the mountain of packaging waste. The report reveals that too few people are making an effort to reduce their household CO2 emissions and environmentalists believe the recession is further undermining public commitment.
The report, by market researchers Mintel, shows that many of Britain's 26 million homes fail to make simple adjustments such as switching off lights, turning down thermostats, and switching off appliances rather than leaving them on standby. The findings also reveal that people are less willing to spend money on energy-efficient appliances than they were five years ago. Analysts believe the recession together with a backlash against "extreme" environmentalist pressure has reduced people's enthusiasm to combat climate change.
The report also found that resistance to saving the planet was greater among men; one in four said they think there is too much concern over the environment, compared with one in six women.
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More information on the 2016 definition of "Zero Carbon".
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps announced additional information about the new definition of "Zero Carbon".
The Government plans to investigate setting up a community energy fund which will be used to pay for district heating and renewable energy schemes.
Developers who pay into the fund will not have to install onsite renewables or microgeneration equipment. Many developers have welcomed the flexibility of paying into a fund rather than grappling with renewables on each site.
However, the full definition of 'zero-carbon' has once again been delayed. This is despite a pre-election promise to get the definition of zero carbon finalised “within weeks” of getting into office.
The new Government Housing Minister has recently announced that the coalition will review the level of on-site renewables required - before publishing the final definition of the standard, which all new homes will have to reach after 2016.
In the announcement, the Minister also re-affirmed his commitment to all new homes being zero-carbon from 2016 and confirmed the introduction of the ‘Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard' which requires a minimum standard in relation to insulation levels and air tightness and thermal bridging in buildings.
Zero carbon is required of all Code for Sustainable Homes level six homes. Clarification of what zero carbon will mean is still to be decided.
If you require assistance with your Code for Sustainable Homes level requirements, contact Ecowise - we are a fully accredited Code for Sustainable Homes assessment organisation.
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Pilot Tidal Energy Scheme for North Wales Coast
Conwy County Borough Council has backed plans for a pilot tidal energy scheme off the North Wales Coast.
The £150 million scheme at Llanddulas in North Wales would provide a testing facility for turbine designers and manufacturers, and assess the environmental impact of turbines.
The project was given approval by the council as part of a strategic regeneration strategy for the Conwy coast, prepared by consultant Capita Symonds.
Paul Terry, Capita Symonds, said: "Tidal power will play a key role in providing a sustainable energy source for future generations. The North Wales coast is an ideal place for such a scheme as it’s blessed with a good tidal range and suitable ocean depth." He added that the project could also help protect the coast from rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion.
The regeneration strategy also calls for seven new visitor centres costing £30m should be built at key locations stretching from Conwy to Rhuddlan. But North Wales Tourism chairman Chris Jackson raised doubts over whether the proposals could realistically be funded in the current economic climate. The council’s approval now means that Capita Symonds will seek funding for feasibility studies and investigations to develop a business case for the scheme.
