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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
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Local Action - Renewable Energy - Other Energy Issues
Members & supporters of the North Devon Green Party often involve themselves deeply with local issues, putting personal time and energy into making the green voice heard, when all other voices muddy into brown.
This area documents some of those campaigns.
Natural energy 'should cut local tax' - call
Article from the North Devon Gazette & Advertiser, August '05
THE people of North Devon and Torridge should be rewarded for the part the districts are likely to play in the future generation of renewable energy - possibly by reduced council tax.
That is the call being made this week by Torridge councillor Peter Christie.
The first wind turbines have already appeared on Torridgeside and Mr Christie said Torridge and North Devon are in the forefront of plans for other renewable energy sources in the county.
He was last night (Tuesday) calling on Torridge District Council colleagues to press Devon County Council to explore the possibility of reduced council tax payments for residents in the districts.
Mr Christie said: "I have been looking at the county renewable energy plan, which identifies areas where such power could be produced, and it seems that most are in the North Devon and Torridge districts, because of their winds and tidal currents.
"What seems illogical to me is that the local people don't get the real benefits from such schemes because all the power goes into the National Grid and is sold at normal prices.
"In Denmark and Germany, communities club together to build their own schemes and they are owned and kept locally. But that does not seem to be possible in the UK.
"If we get these renewable schemes - and it seems likely that they are coming - let's make sure that the local people have a direct benefit."
The 2005 Kyoto Protocol on reduction of greenhouse gases and new European Union emissions rules have created a market in which companies and governments that reduce greenhouse gases can gain "carbon credits" that can be sold on the open market to help others who are less efficient meet their quotas.
This could be the key to a local reward system, said Mr Christie.
"Let's try carbon trading on a local basis. Similar, perhaps, to the buying and selling of milk quotas.
"In Devon we have 10 district and unitary authorities. If Torridge and North produce the bulk of renewable energy and enable Devon to fulfil its quota, it seems only fair that those who are not producing should pay us for meeting their quota. This money could be ring-fenced to reduce the council tax for those providing the renewable energy, so the locals will get some direct benefit from it. Otherwise, what's in it for us?
Wind, Wave or What?
Green Party members and Councillors attended Devon County Council's conference on the future of alternative energy in June '05. There were presentations from EnVision, DARE, SWW, CPRE, DUST, Peninsula Power, the DCC Climate Change Officer Ian Bateman and others.
Wind Wave or What - conference report by Cllr Ricky Knight (.doc 665Kb)
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