27th
July
2010
Policy Reform Essential to Achieve Renewable Energy Targets
A Principal Planner from leading renewable energy and environmental consultancy Atmos Consulting Ltd has warned that policy reform will be essential if the Government is to achieve its current renewable energy targets. Philip Lewis was invited to appear on the expert panel at a RenewableUK Regional Planning Seminar in Durham on 20th July 2010 where he discussed the challenge of meeting the post 2010 renewable targets without a regional strategy to guide decisions.
With the Coalition Government's plans for meeting energy targets a regular feature in the national media, the topic of policies that are designed to support these targets were quick to materialise. However, with Philip having previously worked in Northumberland and County Durham, he was able to empathise with local Councillors and suggest that new forward-looking policy will enable them to deal with such matters in the future.
Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) were also a topical subject following the Coalition's decision to abolish them. The RSS provided regional and sub regional targets for renewable energy development that has become an important consideration in the planning process, particularly in the North East of England. The discussion expressed a concern that the abolition of RSS will lead to a return to planning by appeal.
Philip Lewis of Atmos Consulting comments: "This is a critical moment in the history of renewable energy. Decisions that are made over the next few months are going to be vital in ensuring we meet our renewable targets.
"However to do so, commitment is required from national, regional and, most importantly, Local Authorities. The former RSS targets in the North East Region have been met in terms of consented capacity at least. The challenge now is how we move on to meet the post 2010 targets without a regional strategy to guide decisions."
RenewableUK has launched this series of free Regional Planning Seminars exclusively for local authority Planners and Councillors to enhance their knowledge and awareness of the issues and processes that affect them. They are also designed to provide a chance to share experiences with others in the renewable energy development process.
The RenewableUK Regional Seminars will continue into September which includes a visit to a modern working wind farm and presentations on all the principal issues from other policy makers and developers.
Back to news page.