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News - Energy
Minister Addresses Regional Renewables Conference
News release: 4th November 2004
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Jim
Brathwaite CBE
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On
Thursday, 4th November 2004 in Reading, Berks., the
Government Minister for Energy and E-commerce, Mike O'Brien MP, gave a
speech supporting renewable energy to delegates from around the South
East of England, and presented Renewable Energy Awards for the best
community, business and local authority schemes from around the region,
as voted for by those attending.
The
Minister was contributing to the second day of the annual regional
conference, organised by TV Energy on behalf of the South East
Sustainable Energy Partnership and sponsored by the Partnership, the Countryside
Agency and npower renewables. Mr
O'Brien's speech was strongly supportive of renewable energy and its
essential role in promoting local jobs and the regional and national
economy, and reducing pollution and global warming.
He also stressed the need for the political and planning
framework to be optimised to reduce non-technical barriers for
renewables.
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The
BBC's
Declan Curry does the rounds
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The South East Renewable Energy Awards were presented in the
Business category to Oxfordshire farmer Adam Twine
for his
admirable and persistent efforts, and now finally his recent success, in
gaining planning consent and setting up a community wind scheme for five
turbines
at Westmill Farm, Watchfield in the vale of the White
Horse. Chris Hirst, the Head
at Brill Primary
School, Bucks.,
accepted the Community award for the school's excellent 6kW wind
turbine and solar PV / solar thermal installations, which play an
important role in educating children about technology, resources and the
environment.
The
Local Authority category was won by Buckinghamshire
County Council. This
was for its sustained, high-level commitment to renewables schemes
amongst both councillors and officers, although Eastleigh Borough (for
its many effective initiatives in the renewable energy field), Wokingham District (for its landmark Green
Park
wind
turbine consent decision) and Surrey County councils in particular were not far behind in
the voting.
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Minister
presents award to Adam Twine
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The
BBC's Declan Curry was also on hand to host an extensive debate on the
business case for renewables, featuring audience participation as well
as a panel of experts from the renewables industry, regional development
agency, and the European Commission.
The conference and renewable energy exhibition had kicked off on
3rd November with politicians from the three main parties. Cllr
Tony Page, prospective Labour candidate for Reading East, the Shadow
Energy Minister Laurence Robertson MP of the Conservatives and Sue
Doughty MP (Guildford) from the Lib Dems' Environment team, explained
their policies and faced gruelling questions from the floor, in a
session chaired by the South East England Development Agency's Jim
Brathwaite CBE which reflected the conference sub-theme of 'people,
politics and power'.
Over
the course of the two days further very interesting presentations were
given by locally active renewables developers and champions, as well as
national and international speakers, on key issues and useful case
studies covering a range of energy solutions and approaches.
Alongside interacting with the renewable energy exhibitors, who
provided helpful displays and advice about their companies and
organisations, many interesting informal discussions were held between
delegates during the coffee breaks on how best to promote the various
sustainable technologies.
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O'Brien
addresses South East renewables conference
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Our
warm thanks go to the sponsors, chairs, speakers, exhibitors and all
other contributors featured in this year's conference.
Thank-you also to the magnificent Momo
Theatre for their inimitable take on energy saving, which
greatly entertained the remaining hardy attendees at Day One's
post-conference drinks reception.
All
the conference presentations of a suitable format are available to
download below as PDFs, listed in order of appearance in the conference
programme:
Day 1:
David Payne
Keith Richards
Matt Partridge
Angus Ross
Wendy Goddard-Hill
Emma Wilson
Simon Minett
Bernard McNelis
Day 2:
Bill
Gillett
Mary Miller:
Mary Miller 1 -
(PDF 3.26 MB)
Mary Miller 2 -
(PDF 1.92 MB)
Mary Miller 3 -
(PDF 9.51 MB)
Mary Miller 4 -
(PDF 8.93 MB)
Mary Miller 5 -
(PDF 3.93 MB)
Mary Miller 6 -
(PDF 2.44 MB)
Adam Twine
Martin Whitfield
Chris Hirst
Julije Domac
Patrick Devine-Wright
Duncan Mackay
Mike O'Brien MP
Gary Freedman
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