12/10/10 - Justin Tomlinson MP Supports Renewable Heat Incentives

Justin Tomlinson MP joined green campaigners and a solar-powered hot air balloon outside Parliament to show his support for clean, green heat for businesses and homes today.

During the last Government, all parties pledged to introduce this incentive in April 2011.

Justin Tomlinson MP said:

“Heating our homes and businesses shouldn’t heat the planet - encouraging clean, green heat is essential if we’re to cut climate-changing carbon emissions. I’m backing a Renewable Heat Incentive that will create jobs and help people save money on fuel bills as soon as their is money available to make this possible.”

Friends of the Earth’s Renewable Energy Advisor Alan Simpson said:

“It’s great that MPs like Justin Tomlinson are supporting the switch to planet-friendly ways of heating our homes and workplaces.”

Key facts:

• Heating is responsible for almost half [47 per cent] of the UK’s climate-changing emissions, mostly from heating rooms and water in homes and workplaces.

• The Renewable Heat Incentive could cut carbon emissions by 60 million tonnes in a decade – that’s the equivalent of taking almost 2.5 million cars off the road every year for ten years.

• The UK is committed to producing 12 per cent of heat from renewable sources by 2020 – it is currently just 1 per cent.