Isonomia

by Jonathon Johns

One of the less remarked upon but highly significant changes announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement was a simplification of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). While the changes may appeal on the grounds of a claimed £272m reduction in compliance and reporting costs, they do nothing to stimulate renewed interest in on-site renewable energy generation by businesses, and need urgent revision if they are not to act as a disincentive.

Read more on CRC reform lets through a ray of light…

by Adam Baddeley

An article by one my colleagues last year set out an intelligent case for the export of waste from the UK for use as fuel in other European Union (EU) Member States, particularly highlighting that this need not be just a short-term fix. But the debate rumbles on, and has begun to take new forms, so I thought I would examine the numbers and see how the case for retaining our refuse derived fuel (RDF), also known as solid recovered fuel (SRF), for incineration in the UK, stacks up.

Read more on Exports: a waste of energy?…

by Peter Jones

We hear a lot these days about the opportunities presented by a green economy. If we get the right policies and industries in place we can kick our GDP into a green overdrive, delivering more jobs, more wealth and higher living standards – while still saving the planet. To quote John Cridland, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) “The so-called “choice” between going green or going for growth is a false one”. Heart-warming stuff – but is it true?

Read more on When false choices aren’t real…

by Peter Jones OBE

In my experience, a uniting feature of governments of all political complexions is their capacity to base policy on fundamentally flawed assumptions, miss the overarching issues, and eschew sound science and rational economic models. DECC’s proposals on Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) Banding were a case in point, and the consultation, the results of which are due out this Spring, frustratingly allowed no scope to question the intellectual strength of the total package.

Read more on ROC bands – just keep it simple…

by Peter Jones

Rick Santorum’s improbable remarks in Ohio about President Obama’s commitment to a “phoney theology” of environmentalism have been making headlines – but how far apart are the Republican candidates for the presidential nomination on environmental issues? Which way should an environmentally-minded registered GOP voter turn?

Read more on The Republican anti-environment consensus…