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Huhne to end ban on councils selling green electricity
July 7, 2010 7:30 PM
A ban on councils selling green electricity into the national grid is to be overturned, Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said today as the carbon footprint of every local council in England was published.
In a speech to today's Local Government Association annual conference, Mr Huhne will say that he wants local councils to be allowed to sell electricity they produce from renewables to the national electricity grid.
Mr Huhne said:
"It's ridiculous that the 1976 Local Government Act prevents councils from selling electricity from local wind turbines, or from anaerobic digestion.
"I want to see this repealed and by the end of the year I hope local authorities will be able to sell electricity from renewables - generating revenue to help local services and keep Council Tax down. Local communities can truly benefit from the low-carbon transition."
The carbon footprint of every local council in England is also published today, for the first time. The new figures calculate the CO2 produced by councils in powering and heating their buildings, such as libraries, schools and leisure centres, as well as emissions from business travel, fleet vehicles and even refuse trucks.
Mr Huhne said:
"By calculating their own emissions and the estimated costs of energy use, local councils will be able to identify how to save emissions and save money.
"Wasting energy means that money that could be spent on local services is also being wasted. These new statistics should put energy wastage and energy efficiency at the forefront of the minds of councillors and council officials."
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