Member Article

Government's energy plan is 'shot in the arm' for Tees Valley

The Government’s Energy Review, announced yesterday, has been widely welcomed by North East business. The Energy Review pledged support for a mix of clean, low-carbon energy sources which would include more renewable power from wind farms, wave and solar.The Review’s emphasis on the potential for micro-generation of electricity and combined heat and power (CHP) has been called a ‘shot in the arm’ for the Tees Valley by Renew Tees Valley, established to promote the development of renewable energy and recycling industries in the area.Renew Chief Executive Doctor Dermot Roddy commented: “The review is important because it is quite clear in setting out the Government’s view that renewable energy must play an increasingly important role in meeting the country’s needs and in the Tees Valley we are already ahead of the game in many of the areas touched upon by Alistair Darling. “Take for example combined heat and power, where we are now well advanced in the plans to use CHP to serve the flagship Middlehaven development in Middlesbrough — and again there is ample opportunity for the use of micro-generation at Middlehaven.“Some experts, however, are warning that while the Energy Review is generally positive, much more needs to be done to provide the UK with an efficient energy system. In particular, the North East Chamber of Commerce warn that short-term action will be needed to avoid a crisis in the winter. The NECC has been lobbying the Government to introduce a mix of traditional and renewable energy sources to resolve the growing problems in the supply of utilities. Diana McAlpine, NECC energy spokesperson, said: “This Energy Review illustrates that the Government has realised the scale and scope of the problem that is facing both business and domestic energy users. It’s commitment to a mixed and balanced supply of energy sources is entirely right. “However, it is important that these long-term measures are underpinned by a swift and radical solution to the problems that are looming on the horizon. This region, and every other region in the UK, faces a winter of extreme hardship unless we resolve shortages of supply.“A poll conducted by the NECC in may 2006 found that two-thirds of North East businesses believe that building more nuclear power stations is key to solving our future energy needs. More than 70% of respondents said their companies had been affected by rising energy prices, and, over 50% predicted that rising energy prices will constrict their business growth.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .