UK: Pioneering town to drive green policy

A town whose energy-efficiency projects have caught the attention of ministers has been asked to help shape national policy for "the greenest Government ever".

Professor Stephen Frankel, on behalf of the Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN) in North Cornwall, will meet with eight officials from other communities across the country to advise ministers as part of the Community Energy Contact Group.

Seychelles proposes a new energy bill to revolutionize electricity provision

The Seychelles Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft of an Energy Bill aimed at modernizing electricity provision in Seychelles, as well as creating competition in the renewable and clean energy sector.

The Public Utilities Corporation currently produces the country’s electricity, and has a monopoly over both production and transmission. With the proposed Energy Bill 2011, a new series of licenses for independent power producers (large scale production for general population), auto producers (single producers for own household or business use), co-producers (small-scale providers who produce for self and a limited amount for other users will be introduced.

USA: Extending the Renewable Energy PTC

Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced legislation aimed at extending the Production Tax Credit, or PTC. 

First conceived in 1992 as part of the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 776), the PTC has been renewed year after year and also incorporated into the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as part of that Act’s Renewable Energy Production Incentives. The PTC currently provides a 2.2-cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on wind, closed-loop biomass, and geothermal resources for the first decade of a renewable energy facility’s life. Other renewable forms of energy receive a tax credit of 1 cent per kWh.