Energy Secretary Encourages Green Peninsula to Lead Green Deal
The MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Constituency of St Ives, Andrew George, secured the support of the Energy Secretary – Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP – for Cornwall to be at the forefront of energy efficiency; which will aid the ambition to become the ‘Green Peninsula’ and lead the country in environment policy.
During Commons Questions today Mr. George sought reassurances from the Energy Secretary that when the Green Deal is launched in 2012 Cornwall’s hope to help local homes and businesses take advantage of the scheme would not face avoidable hurdles.
Mr. George asked:
“There are a number of places in the country, including Cornwall, that are particularly ambitious to forge ahead with the Green Deal but, other than constraints on the capacity of assessors and fitters, will there be any other impediments which will inhibit those parts of the country that particularly want to embrace this opportunity?”
Responding the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne MP, said:
“I think that we are working through every possible impediment as we are in other areas of the economy that my department is particularly attempting to see this transition to the low carbon economy to understand best what might be the impediments and to remove them. But, I am absolutely confident that when it comes to the Green Deal and to the launch of the Green Deal in October 2010 there will be enormous opportunities for Cornwall and the only constraint is going to be making sure that there are enough people who are trained properly to both accredit, to assess, and to install the Green Deal. The finance I am confident will be available and it is important that we make as much progress as we can.”
A quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions comes from the energy used to heat our homes, and a similar amount comes from our businesses, industry and workplaces. The Green Deal is a Government initiative that will enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and will recoup payments through a charge in installments on the consumer’s energy bill.