Councils may focus on renewable energy in low carbon frameworks

Posted by Andrew Marshall.

Renewable energy may prove to be one area that is focused on in a new local authority scheme which is being backed by the government.

A number of councils, in regions such as Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester, are to take part in the initiative, which will encourage them to look at issues such as insulation and other retrofitting measures.

Under the scheme, councils will be encouraged to lower the carbon emissions produced in their area by setting themselves goals and looking at the ways in which these targets can be fulfilled.

According to the government''s communities secretary John Denham, local authorities have a key role to play when it comes to addressing the issue of climate change.

''The nine authorities being named today are ready to help government identify the support needed for all local authorities to follow the lead of the best [and] make sure unnecessary barriers to action are swept away,'' he commented.

Meanwhile, the government is also set to contribute funds to a renewable energy research project in collaboration with the Masdar Institute.