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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Home green energy plans reviewed | Home green energy plans reviewed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A planning shake-up to make it easier for householders to install solar panels, wind turbines and ground heat pumps is being considered. | A planning shake-up to make it easier for householders to install solar panels, wind turbines and ground heat pumps is being considered. |
| Energy Minister Stewart Stevenson is consulting on whether micro-generation equipment could be set up without the need for planning permission. | Energy Minister Stewart Stevenson is consulting on whether micro-generation equipment could be set up without the need for planning permission. |
| Micro-generation is a vital part of the government's plan to cut Scotland's carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. | Micro-generation is a vital part of the government's plan to cut Scotland's carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. |
| The planning regulations would make the systems easier to install. | The planning regulations would make the systems easier to install. |
| Under the government's plans, solar panels and ground heat pumps would no longer need planning permission, provided they were not in a conservation area. | Under the government's plans, solar panels and ground heat pumps would no longer need planning permission, provided they were not in a conservation area. |
| 'Global effort' | 'Global effort' |
| Wind turbines would need to be less than three metres tall and at least 100 metres away from the next house. | Wind turbines would need to be less than three metres tall and at least 100 metres away from the next house. |
| Mr Stevenson said it was a matter of balancing energy needs with the look of streets and houses. | Mr Stevenson said it was a matter of balancing energy needs with the look of streets and houses. |
| "Everyone has a part to play and the Scottish Government is providing strong leadership by reforming the planning system to encourage greater use of micro-generation equipment," he added. | "Everyone has a part to play and the Scottish Government is providing strong leadership by reforming the planning system to encourage greater use of micro-generation equipment," he added. |
| "This signals Scotland's serious intent to lead the global effort to tackle climate change. | "This signals Scotland's serious intent to lead the global effort to tackle climate change. |
| "The cost and time required to get planning consent can often be a disincentive to householders seeking to install micro-generation technologies." | "The cost and time required to get planning consent can often be a disincentive to householders seeking to install micro-generation technologies." |
| Nearly a third of Scotland's climate change emissions come from homes, so it is important the public is enabled to play a role in helping to reduce those emissions Elizabeth Leighton WWF Scotland | Nearly a third of Scotland's climate change emissions come from homes, so it is important the public is enabled to play a role in helping to reduce those emissions Elizabeth Leighton WWF Scotland |
| Mr Stevenson visited the home of Edinburgh resident Dora Elliot, who had to wait more than a year to get planning permission for her solar panels. | |
| "I suppose a lot of people would have given up," she said. | |
| "The council just did not seem to understand the technology. They sent me forms as if I was building a house." | |
| The Scottish Government recently announced its intention to introduce a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050. | The Scottish Government recently announced its intention to introduce a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050. |
| The Energy Saving Trust, along with environmental charities, backed the proposals, which will help people to reduce their carbon footprint. | The Energy Saving Trust, along with environmental charities, backed the proposals, which will help people to reduce their carbon footprint. |
| Elizabeth Leighton, of WWF Scotland, said: "Nearly a third of Scotland's climate change emissions come from homes, so it is important the public is enabled to play a role in helping to reduce those emissions." | |
| Liz Murray, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, added: "Scotland has fallen behind England in making these changes, so it is vital now that the Scottish Government continues with this process with a greater sense of urgency, to ensure that we don't fall any further behind." | Liz Murray, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, added: "Scotland has fallen behind England in making these changes, so it is vital now that the Scottish Government continues with this process with a greater sense of urgency, to ensure that we don't fall any further behind." |
| A public consultation will be carried out over the next 10 weeks. | A public consultation will be carried out over the next 10 weeks. |