The United Kingdom approved three energy bills last week that will create tough emissions standards and incentives to drive the development of clean technologies.
The Climage Change Bill makes the U.K. the first country in the world to adopt a legally-binding framework for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The bill sets the goal recommended by climate scientists around the world–an 80% reduction of GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill calls for five-year "carbon budgets" to phase in the emissions cuts.
The Climate Change Bill also creates incentives for small renewable energy producers beginning in 2010. A feed-in tariff will be created for renewable projects of no more than 5 MW. This is significant, in that successful feed-in tariffs in Germany and Spain have primarily benefitted developers of larger systems. Guaranteed prices under the tariff have not yet been set.
The second piece of legislation is the Energy Bill, which the British government said will encourage the developent of new nuclear power and renewable energy sources and lay the groundwork for smart grid development and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
The Planning Bill is the third piece of approved legislation. According to a government summary of the bill, it will provide for greater energy efficiency in homes and simplify the permitting process for large energy projects.
Despite the approval of these bills, there has been much dissention over the effects of the legislation, which many believe will raise the cost of energy for British citizens to a burdensome level.
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The European Union on Monday agreed to new emissions regulations for European carmakers, after months of heated negotiations. Automakers will be required to cut greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles 18% within the next six years.
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