Local communities will be offered up to £150,000 each to create their own renewable energy through solar panels or wind turbines and take on the Big Six gas and electricity giants, the Government will announce tomorrow. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-beat-the-big-six-power-companies–coalition-offers-new-10m-fund-fordiy-energy-schemes-9085464.html
Colin Donald Business Editor The Forestry Commission in Scotland is risking one of Scotland’s staple industries by failing to replace trees felled to construct wind farms, the head of the UK’s £300 million sawmilling sector has said. David Sulman is director of the Stirling-based UK Forest Products Association, which represents Read more
Shale gas is set to start flowing in Europe within weeks after an AIM-quoted company backed by George Soros fracked Poland’s second successful well. http://www.thegwpf.org/shale-gas-set-start-flowing-europe/
EEF and Tata Steel warn benefit of shale gas in attracting businesses to the UK is many years off, while urgent action is needed to address rising energy costs http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/10595626/Fracking-too-late-to-help-businesses-facing-rising-green-energy-costs-manufacturers-tell-Prime-Minister.html
Germany is set to become the first nation in Europe to charge owners of renewable energy plants for their own use of electricity, part of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s effort to contain rising power bills. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-24/germany-first-in-europe-to-tax-consumer-use-of-renewable-energy
An ongoing battle over an Interior Department rule-making that allows wind-energy producers to kill bald and golden eagles without prosecution has created a rift between environmental advocates and the wind industry. http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/wind-permits-allowing-eagle-deaths-face-blowback-20140123
Tim Yeo chairs Common energy and climate change committee Has previously called for ‘bribes’ for communities to accept wind farms But he has joined campaign against plans in his South Suffolk seat http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545393/Tory-MP-champions-wind-farms-joins-campaign-against-turbines-Suffolk-constituency.html
A renewable energy firm has resubmitted a planning application for a nine-turbine wind farm in Midlothian. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-25880210