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SCOTTISH MP’S CLIMATE CHANGE BILL PASSES FINAL PARLIAMENTARY STAGE

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill today passed its final Parliamentary stage and will become law when it receives Royal Assent tomorrow. This Private Members Bill has been promoted by Mark Lazarowicz, Labour/Co-op MP for Edinburgh North & Leith, and represents a significant boost to microgeneration and to renewable energy generally. 

Mark said: “This Bill will give a big boost to householders and local groups who want to install renewable energy in their own houses and communities. Small scale renewable energy - microgeneration - can make a significant contribution to the UK's energy needs. It is clear, from the thousands of people who have contacted me during the course of this Bill, that this technology has captured the public's interest. It is now up to industry, local authorities and central government to respond to the public demand”.

Mark with Mohanjit Singh on the balcony of the flats with a view of Leith below and behind them
Mark and Mohanjit Singh, Managing
Director of Port of Leith Housing Association at the Graham Street Development: 60 strikingly modern flats designed by
Leith Based architects Hackland and Dore. Car free development close to
a number of main buss routes. The design of the flats maximises thermal
efficiency and south facing glazing reduces the tenants' energy bills.

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill is designed to encourage measures to combat climate change on a UK level, encourage microgeneration, energy efficiency, renewable heat and certain other renewable energy sources and to alleviate fuel poverty.

Microgeneration means the generation of energy (heat or electricity) by individual householders or by small groups of householders and communities. It can take various forms, including micro-wind, fuel cells, and photovoltaics (solar panels).

A Government amendment introduced at Committee stage will cap transmission charges for renewable electricity produced in the Scottish islands which will help to keep electricity production costs down and encourage wind and wave power in Scotland.

The Bill was backed by all the major environmental and fuel poverty NGOs and all the relevant trade associations, acting through the Sustainable Energy Partnership.

For the full text of the Act, incorporating amendments, click here >>>
To download the Act in PDF form, click here >>>
Department of Trade & Industry guidance on the Act click here >>>
For the official report of the Third Reading debate, click here >>>
To Download Word Document on how to measure your "Carbon Footprint" by Jan Rovensky, click here >>>
For other useful links, click here >>>
For other speeches, publications, and activities by Mark on the issue of energy, click here >>>
Mark and Sarah Boyack MSP at the energy efficient Saughton Mains sheltered housing
Mark and Sarah standing outside the sheltered housing