home • about mark • parliament • news from mark • community news • contact me
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.
SCOTTISH SUCCESS AS MICROPOWER BILL BECOMES LAW
Friends of the Earth Press Release

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill today (Tuesday 20 July) passed its final Parliamentary stage and will become law when it receives Royal Assent tomorrow.

The passage of this Private Members Bill promoted by Edinburgh Labour/Co-op MP, Mark Lazarowicz, represents a significant boost to the microgeneration industry, and is expected to help bring widespread consumer-based production of sustainable energy closer to reality.

Since last year Friends of the Earth Scotland had been urging MPs from all parties to unite behind the Bill and has been encouraging supporters to ask their MP to support the Bill.
Mark with a wind turbine

One of the largest Private Members Bills ever, the Bill will sweep aside some of the barriers to the uptake of microgeneration and bring in wide ranging policies for its promotion.

Friends of the Earth Scotland Chief Executive, Duncan Mclaren, said: "Today represents an important step forward in boosting microgeneration in this country. Mark Lazarowicz is to be commended for his hard work in getting this Bill through. This legislation should make it easier for the ordinary citizen to take action to stop climate chaos. We hope too, that in time, this great piece of legislation will be joined by complementary laws here in Scotland."

Mark Lazarowicz MP, the promoter of the Bill 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".

20th June 2006
Back to Press Releases