News Elsewhere contains mainly articles we have permission to republish from Views of Scotland and Country Guardian. You can learn more about these organisations by visiting: http://www.countryguardian.net/ and http://www.viewsofscotland.org/. Occasionally we will also post news from elsewhere on the web.
By Jim Pickard and Elizabeth Rigby The coalition is heading for a fresh dispute over green energy after a call by Downing Street to water down climate commitments as part of efforts to keep power bills down. Senior Conservatives have put under review several green policies in the last fortnight Read more
Labour plans to rein in energy lobbyists as analysis shows ministers have met with energy giants five times more often than with consumer groups Andrew Grice Lobbyists employed directly by the energy companies should be reined in and their dealings with the Government made more open, Ed Miliband has said. Read more
Civil servants at the Department for Energy and Climate Change received more than £1m in taxpayer-funded bonuses last year, at the same time as bills for consumers soared by an average of £100 a year, it emerged yesterday. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-attacks-bonuses-for-energy-officials-as-bills-soar-8861352.html
The IPCC and its reports have been shaped by a close-knit group of scientists, all dedicated to the cause http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/10356276/Climate-change-scientists-are-just-another-pressure-group.html
Every British household will pay an average of more than £400 in higher bills over the next six years to pay for subsidies under controversial Government plans to hit green power targets. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10357189/Green-energy-to-cost-consumers-400-over-next-five-years.html
WIND farms would be removed from private ownership and transferred into public hands in an independent Scotland under a plan to be debated at this month’s SNP conference. http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/scotland/article1323829.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_10_05
by Paul Cargill There is growing concern among community groups that a “one-sided argument” is being presented in favour of a Perthshire wind farm bid. Banks Renewables held public exhibitions in Inchture and Balbeggie last month to promote its plans to build six 132m-high turbines on the Bandirran Estate near Read more
Steven Vass Deputy Business Editor, Sunday Herald THE managing director of Steel Engineering, one of Scotland’s leading hopes for renewables manufacturing, has stepped down after the owners discovered a “significant decline” in the company’s finances. Peter Breslin, who had been in charge of the Renfrew-based company for several years, resigned Read more