Wilson believes the government's Renewables Obligation, which comes into effect on April 1, will transform the market for alternative generation. The Obligation requires electricity companies to purchase a proportion of power from renewable sources at a premium price.
At present, less than 3% of electricity in the UK comes from renewables. The government is committed to a 10% target by 2010. Wilson has also revealed that regional targets are to be established throughout the country to help ensure that reasonable expectations are set and monitored.
The government is investing £260 million in renewable technologies over the next three years. In addition, it will guarantee at least a £750 million market for electricity generated from renewable sources by 2010.
A substantial part of the funding will be dedicated in 2002 to the first generation of the UK's offshore wind farms and energy crop power plants.
"The opportunity now exists for potentially viable projects to gain the support and access that they need. I want to support each of the renewable technologies to the point of establishing which of them have viable futures in the UK context," says Wilson.
He warns, however, that it would be pointless to set more ambitious targets, which can't be met short-term: "The reality is that we are starting from a low base and it will take a lot of commitment, not least by government itself, to reach the 10%."
Wilson says the government would ensure that renewables projects are treated fairly by the planning system: "This may involve a challenge to the integrity and consistency of some environmentalists. They cannot, on the one hand, say that the future lies with renewables but, on the other object to just about every specific project that comes forward.
"There also has to be a sensible balance between encouraging renewables and recognising that, in the short-term at least, this is going to increase the cost of electricity. That is a factor which cannot be ignored if public support is to be maintained."
Source
Building Sustainable Design
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