-
· Government
have today released the Clean Air Strategy
-
· This
follows on from a draft proposal and consultation in May
2018
-
· Whilst
the REA welcome the ambitions of the Clean Air Strategy, we urge
the Government to commit to strong sector specific policies and
take into account contemporary evidence on the role of bioenergy
in meeting carbon targets
-
· The
REA urge the Government to focus on alternative courses of action
to improve urban air quality through the uptake of electric
vehicles and renewable transport fuels.
James Court Policy & External Affairs
Director at the Renewable Energy
Association commented:
“The Government’s Clean Air Strategy includes welcome
ambitions to bring the UK’s air quality in line with WHO
limits. To take this plan forward, Government must now
deliver strong sector specific policies that support technologies
to address these concerns, while also properly enforcing existing
controls such as Clean Air Zones and existing legislation.
“Critically, future policies must be based on up-to-date
evidence that recognises the role bioenergy has to play in both
improving air quality and, at the same time, meeting our carbon
reduction targets. For this reason, it remains concerning that
Government continue to target biomass heating systems, while
urban air quality problems can be best minimised by focusing on
encouraging vehicles powered by electricity or renewable fuels.
Similarly, much greater detail will now be required on the
proposals to ensure ammonia emissions are minimised when storing
and spreading digestates, ensuring this is correctly implemented
and in a proportionate manner to support a growing anaerobic
digestion and organics recycling sector.
“From a renewable power perspective, proposals to remove
future biomass power sites from future renewable power auctions
seemingly ignore the strenuous, tightly controlled and audited
emission standards already in place, which also continue to be
strengthened.”
—ENDS—
Notes to editors
