Liberal Democrats have approved a motion strengthening the party’s commitment to making this the greenest government ever.

The motion welcomed the Coalition’s Green Deal, Green Investment Bank and ambitious carbon reduction targets.

It also called for improvements in energy efficiency and support for green infrastructure, transport and technologies.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey said:

“The Liberal Democrats were campaigning for the environment long before it was fashionable.

“This is the greatest challenge of our age and the Liberal Democrats will not back down in the fight against climate change.

“Making this the greenest government ever won’t be easy, but it is the right thing for Britain and the planet.

“We are building a new economy from the rubble of the old, an economy with green jobs and green technologies at its heart.”

A total of £3.5million in funding has been announced today to help train hundreds of people in key green skills ahead of the launch of the Green Deal, delivering on the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement in March last year to create 1,000 Green Deal apprenticeships.

The Green Deal is the Government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme aimed at renovating millions of draughty, energy-inefficient homes and office buildings across the UK. This scheme will begin later this year and will support an estimated 65,000 jobs by 2015.

Trained, skilled professionals in assessing home energy efficiency and installing insulation are crucial for getting the Green Deal off the ground which is why today’s money for training will go a long way to help the UK prepare for the launch.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been working closely with the Green Deal Skills Alliance to ensure support goes where it is most needed. DECC is putting forward £3m and one of the leading partners in the Alliance, CITB-ConstructionSkills, will provide a further £500,000 towards the training of insulation installers.

Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said:

“This money will help hundreds of people gear up for the Green Deal and ensure this scheme is a real success on the ground. We have worked hand in hand with industry to get this right and are targeting funding at the areas where there is an urgent need as well as a clear demand. We hope this will encourage businesses across the country to fully prepare their staff for the launch of the Green Deal later this year.”

CITB-ConstructionSkills CEO Mark Farrar said:

“Today’s announcement represents a significant step towards preparing the construction industry for the Government’s flagship efficiency scheme.

“Training shortfalls have been identified as one of the main barriers to the success of the scheme. We have invested funds to tackle training shortages and unlock commercial opportunities for SMEs and we welcome DECC’s commitment to skills and training by doing the same thing. We are now calling on employers and the supply chain to also invest in sustainable skills training for their workforce, so they too can capitalise on the Green Deal.”

In addition, DECC is also funding a £10million competition to be launched in early May to support the incorporation of innovative technologies which can achieve significant energy savings in existing non-domestic buildings. Non-domestic buildings, such as schools, shops, offices, hotels, are associated with 18% of the UK’s total carbon emissions so reducing energy demand in this sector will help the country meet its climate targets.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director of Age UK said:

“It is deplorable that over 5 million households, half of which are occupied by older people, are living in fuel poverty. A number of these households are cutting back on either heating or food to help make ends meet at a time of escalating fuel prices. They face a stark choice which could put their health at risk.

Fuel poverty has a devastating effect on people’s mental and physical wellbeing and cold can and does kill.

“We agree with the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group report that the only sure way to help people manage rising energy costs is to help them properly insulate their homes and reduce their need for energy – especially for households in fuel poverty.

“We have been waiting a long time for details of the Green Deal so welcome the announcement of a consultation from the Department of Energy and Climate Change but still need reassurance that vulnerable older customers will be protected from cold calling and hard pressure selling of insulation schemes.

“The ECO (Energy Companies Obligations) scheme will be the only one in England helping fuel poor – the Government must understand the urgency of this issue and the impact it has on older people.”

The Friends of Kingston Gardens, and local environmental group, Green Futures, are looking for volunteers to help improve the environment of Kingston Woods by helping out with their next project.

Weather permitting, on Monday 13th February at 9.30am the two local groups will be starting work in the woodland, and we are asking for anyone with an interest in the woodland to come and help.

Volunteers will be supplied high viz tabards, gloves and safety glasses. We ask that anyone who is prepared to give their time should wrap up well with plenty of layers of clothing, and wear appropriate footwear. We will be serving hot soup and a roll at lunchtime.

The work comprises of brush cutting, raking out areas, reinstating walkways, strengthening the perimeter line of the woods and putting up a Lincolnshire fence, planting a mixed species hedge line and the removal of non-biodegradables (better known as litter picking!). We have a strong and able team that will be there to guide and assist on the day.

The Friends of Kingston Gardens are working with N E Lincs Council and Green Futures to follow a management plan for the woods which will enhance the environment, protect wildlife, and increase the biodiversity of the area. I have applied for National Lottery funding for this project and if successful the grant will be used to work towards Green Flag status for Kingston Gardens

The next meeting of the group will take place at 7.15pm on February 15th at Yarborough Community Centre. Anyone with an interest in the future of the Woods will be most welcome.

Strongly backed by Nick Clegg, newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey was quick to make his mark in his new role when he confirmed his personal commitment to green growth, green jobs and the wider use of wind power technology. “I think that onshore and offshore wind power has a real place in a balanced mix of energy generation so I’m a huge supporter of renewables” he said.

100 Tory back-benchers have tabled a motion calling for a dramatic cut in subsidies for onshore wind farms but Ed is very clear where he stands. “Already we’ve seen through the subsidies that this government has invested in onshore wind that the price has come down to make onshore more competitive, so we’ve got money in all sorts of renewables because of the success of these investments.

“There may have been a change at the helm, but there’ll be no change in direction or ambition. My priorities are very simple: green jobs, green growth and getting the best deal for energy bill payers.”Ed and Nick Clegg were visiting the Building Research Establishment’s Innovation Park near Watford, a testing site for green homes, where they met graduates considering moving into green construction jobs. Nick Clegg told them “The race is on to lead the world in clean, green energy. The savviest states understand that going for growth means going green. Low-carbon markets are the next frontier in the battle for global pre-eminence.

“We have every reason to be confident. The combination of enviable wind, wave and tidal power, a world-beating research base and a proud history of engineering give the UK a clear competitive edge. So we’re already in pole position. But the reality is: we need to sharpen our elbows if we want to stay ahead.” Ed Davey also announced that 155 community energy projects across the country have won a share of £5.1 million of funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund. The winning bids include projects to demonstrate wall insulation to the public, schemes to check the energy efficiency of homes and events to promote energy efficiency in local communities.

While Ed was getting to grips with his new job, Norfolk North’s Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb was taking up his new appointment as Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs in the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. Welcoming him Secretary of State Vince Cable said “Norman’s professional background as an employment lawyer and experience as the Liberal Democrat’s Trade and Industry Spokesman make him an ideal replacement. He pioneered our policy to privatise Royal Mail and establish employee share ownership in the business so it is fitting that he will be responsible for implementing that policy.”

Norman, who was previously chief political adviser to Nick Clegg, expressed himself particularly delighted to be implementing the Post Office reforms he had pioneered in opposition. These would give employees a stake in the company.

Two other new appointments were announced in the mini-reshuffle. Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott becomes an Assistant Government Whip and Dunbartonshire East’s MP Jo Swinson becomes PPS to Nick Clegg.

North East Lincolnshire Council is operating its normal winter weather service.

Gritting
Today: Friday, February 10
Gritting crews will be out after the rush hour at 6.30pm.

Weather update:
Today: Friday, February 10
Tonight is expected to remain dry with long clear spells, although perhaps some patchy low cloud at times. Road surface temperatures well below freezing with ice where any snow melt has left roads wet.

Saturday, February 11
Staying dry and cold in the morning. Becoming cloudy in the afternoon with drizzle breaking out at times later. Cloudy and drizzly overnight with patchy hill fog. Maybe a few short breaks in the cloud cover. Road surface temperatures well below zero, especially anywhere cloud breaks.

Sunday, February 12
A lot of cloud on Sunday and into the night with patchy mist/fog. Road surface temperatures near zero or a bit below with cloud possibly breaking at times.

Monday, February 13
Mostly cloudy, maybe with a little patchy drizzle, but cloud becoming broken later and overnight as west to northwest wind starts to freshen. Road surface temperatures probably close to zero overnight, or a shade below.

Looking ahead
Chance of showery outbreaks through Tuesday and Wednesday but not expected to be wintry. Overnight Road surface temperatures dependent on cloud cover – may be marginal or just below.

Potholes
As the snow and ice thaws, damage will inevitably occur to road surfaces. Please encourage the reporting of pot holes and defects through the council’s contact centre (01472) 324500.

Waste and recycling
Services are operating as normal.

For more information about the winter service visit the council’s website at www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/transport–streets-and-parking/winter-service/

Earlier today I received the following message from Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change:

Dear Les

Some things in politics are symbolic. For dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists like the Liberal Democrats, solar power is one of these things – indisputably clean, green and cutting edge technology. The sort of thing Liberal Democrats in a government that aims to be the greenest ever should be unequivocally behind.

Our commitment to the environment was why I joined the party in the first place. That’s why I want solar power to be as widely available as possible.

As it stands, the Feed in Tariffs scheme that helps people to install solar panels in their homes or businesses reaches too few people. By lowering the tariff we can extend it to more people – making clean, green, renewable energy available to the many, not the few.

That’s why I am announcing a consultation to look at exactly how we reform the tariff to make sure as many people as possible take advantage of it.

I want more solar panels installed and more carbon emissions saved than under the old scheme.

I want the returns you get from solar power to be predictable, sustainable and attractive.

And I want to give a real boost to micro-combined heat and power, which allows people produce clean, green electricity in their homes.

I am proud of the big, ambitious green measures the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have undertaken:

• The Green Deal which will lead an energy efficiency revolution in our homes

• The Green Investment Bank to kickstart green businesses and green jobs

• The most ambitious climate change targets a country has ever set

• And real progress at Cancun to get international agreement on climate change

I don’t believe that fighting climate change and rebuilding our economy are mutually exclusive. I believe green jobs are the key to our recovery.

And I don’t believe going green means hitting people in the pocket. Energy efficiency, our reforms of the energy market and giving consumers more information will help bring down bills.

I am determined that this will be the greenest government ever. I’m up for that challenge and I’m sure all Liberal Democrats feel the same.

A longer version of this message is available at Liberal Democrat Voice.

Yours,

Ed Davey MP

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

TO comply with new environmental legislation set by the government regarding mercury emissions that are released into the atmosphere, North East Lincolnshire Council is installing new abatement equipment at Grimsby Crematorium.

Work is due to start at the end of March 2012, which will see the installation of 100 per cent mercury abatement equipment. This will exceed the government’s guidelines, which require all crematoria to achieve at least 50 per cent abatement emissions from all cremations by January 1, 2013. And it will meet the requirement to achieve 100 per cent by 2020.

Councillor Alex Wallace, portfolio holder for environment and strategic housing, said: “We felt it would be more cost effective to install the full abatement equipment now as we know it will be needed by 2020 to meet the government’s green agenda regarding mercury emissions.

“At the same time as installing this legislative equipment, we will also be replacing our cremators as they are nearing the end of their useful lifespan having been installed 18 years ago. The new cremators will be far more efficient than the current equipment, and will further reduce the crematorium’s carbon footprint.”

In addition to the £1-million capital investment into the cremators and abatement equipment, other building works are to be completed at the same time. A further £250,000 will be spent on improvements to the crematorium, which includes a new heat exchanger, improved storage facilities, roofing work, new waiting rooms, toilets and a re-location of the Book of Remembrance.

The crematorium’s new heat exchanger will use surplus furnace energy to heat the building. This energy would have otherwise been emitted into the atmosphere. This is not energy from the cremation itself, but rather the surplus energy normally discarded from the exchangers.

Many of these improvements have been needed for a number of years and we’ve scheduled to do them all together in order to reduce the number of times services are disrupted.

Understandably there will be some disruption to services but we will be in constant communication with the funeral directors and the crematorium will be open throughout the works, although some areas may be restricted.

We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption and ask for the support from families and mourners during these essential works.

The crematorium will have a reduced service for a period of approximately six months until the works are complete but requirements are expected to be met during this time.

North East Lincolnshire Council has planned the works in consultation with funeral directors and the Friends of Grimsby and Cleethorpes Cemeteries and Crematorium. Mike Hughes, chairperson of this group, said:

“The additional areas that are to be added as part of the extension programme including the change of layout will make a significant difference and will benefit hugely to all who attend the Crematorium.”

The works are being constructed by Balfour Beatty Living Places in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council.

Liberal Democrat MEP and ELDR President Sir Graham Watson, who is Chairman of a global network of MPs and MEPs from all mainstream political parties working to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy called the Climate Parliament has today said that the switch to green energy has now become just as much an energy security issue as an environmental imperative.

Commenting on the ongoing crisis where Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Germany have experienced reductions of up to 30% in Russian gas supplies from Gazprom over the last few days, Sir Graham said:

“The freezing conditions across Europe highlight yet again the dangers of being so overly-reliant on Russia for a quarter of our gas. Gazprom has – understandably – diverted its supplies to keep Russian homes warm, leaving many European countries short and prices on the rise.”

“And we just don’t know what Gazprom will do next.”

“But the wind is blowing harder than ever in the Scottish Hebrides and it is 15 C and sunny in southern Spain and Greece. If, instead of building gas pipelines, we were building electricity transmission infrastructure and switching from fossil fuels to wind and solar power, this week’s energy outlook would be a different story. European renewables are the answer to our energy security.”

“Indeed, the sun is also shining bright as ever in the Sahara. Importing electricity from North Africa would in fact be more secure than Russian gas, due to the larger number of potential trading partners and the fact that electricity cannot be switched off like gas. Electricity is the ultimate ‘just in time’ product: that which is not transmitted today is lost forever

New Energy Secretary Ed Davey said recently while visitting Watford that British companies are “leading the world” in creating green jobs and improving energy efficiency, and Mr Davey also marked his first full day in the job by announcing the 155 community projects that have succeeded with bids for a £5.1 million pot from the Local Energy Assessment Fund.

Speaking on his first ministerial visit since replacing Chris Huhne in the role, Mr Davey said he has been a “lifelong supporter” of renewable energy.

Liberal Democrat MP Mr Davey, who was accompanied to the Building Research Establishment (BRE) testing facility for green homes near Watford by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, said:

“I’ve been a lifelong supporter of the green agenda, I campaigned at university and afterwards on things like energy efficiency, and I’m here today at the excellent BRE seeing what British companies are doing leading the world, creating green jobs.

“I’ve also been a lifelong supporter of renewables and so I’m delighted to see that the UK again is leading in that technology.”

Mr Davey, who has recently been promoted from his former position as a business minister following the resignation of Chris Huhne to defend himself against charges of perverting the course of justice, added that the UK must continue to play a leading role in exporting green technologies.

He added:

“We’ve got to compete in the world and actually here’s an industry, here’s a technology – a group of technologies – where we’re leading the world, and this institute here is playing a critical role in that.”

Mr Davey and Mr Clegg went on a tour of some of the prototype buildings at the site where some of the latest energy- efficient technology is developed, and after being shown examples of sustainable homes, including one that has zero carbon emissions, the pair spoke to young people taking part in the company’s graduate scheme.