Green Party campaigners around the country are leading the drive for cheap, clean solar energy. The initiative is being launched as part of their 2002 local elections campaign, but will become a long-term feature of practical Green politics in local authorities throughout England.
Following the lead of Germany - where a Green Party-led environment ministry is running a "100,000 solar roofs" programme - Greens in England are highlighting the social, environmental and economic benefits of solar panels mounted on rooftops for either water heating or electricity production.
In Leicester - the first environmental city in England - the Greens are challenging the city council to put solar systems on 1,000 roofs within 5 years and on 10,000 roofs within 20 years, and are campaigning for the city to regain its status as environmental capital of Britain.
Tom O'Connell explained:
"We want both the council and individual householders and businesses to take the fullest advantage of existing government grants." (2)"But we also want the council to use its discretionary grants, regeneration funding and council house improvement cash to fit solar roofs wherever possible, as part of its anti-poverty as well as environmental improvement policies."
2. This month the government has announced £20m for solar energy grants, including 50% grants for householders, 65% for public buildings and 35% for businesses.
3. The current Home Energy Conservation Bill includes mandatory targets which the government attempted to remove. The Green Party has been influential in keeping the targets in the Bill. Green Party continues to lobby the Government to have the targets strengthened.
4. Nationally the Green Party is campaigning for the government to tighten energy-efficiency standards for new buildings - including obligatory use of solar energy - increase funding to local authorities for the purpose. In the meantime we want local authorities to persuade housebuilders to fit solar roofs on at least a proportion of new homes and business premises.
5. Solar systems are ideal for reducing energy use cost-effectively. A basic solar water-heating system can cost as little as £2,000 and could pay for itself within 5 years. [Information from Fuelmizas of Preston, Lancashire]
6. The Greens feature solar power in their radical new film/TV broadcast.
7. Note that there's a skill shortage needs to be born in mind on any government-funded training programmes to facilitate solar power developments.
8. Number of Council houses in Leicester, 26,313 in year 2000.