Green energy deal struck to power council buildings

Green energy deal struck to power council buildings

Mar 26 - The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Northumberland County Council will be one of the first authorities in England to be powered completely by green energy, saving 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year.

All of the council's electricity will come from environmentally- friendly renewable energy sources from April 1 2004.

The deal, struck with electricity supplier npower, means that over 500 Northumberland County Council-owned buildings will be powered by green energy from sources such as wind farms, hydro- electric stations, harnessing sewage gas and using biomass material.

Although the electricity will still be supplied from the National Grid, npower will ensure Northumberland County Council's share will originate from environmentally-friendly resources.

The move reaffirms the council's commitment to renewable energy. The county has excellent renewable energy resources and already has some high-profile projects such as the UK's first offshore wind power development at Blyth.

The contract with npower means that Northumberland County Council will run on green electricity for the next three years with an option to extend beyond that time frame.

The deal puts the authority way ahead of the Government directive that 10pc of all electricity is generated from green resources by 2010, rising to 20pc by 2020.

Alan Wann, Northumberland County Council's head of regeneration and chairman of the Countywide Group that steered the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy for Northumberland, said: "The foresight of the county council to make this commitment is a great boost to our aim of promoting renewable energy and securing Northumberland as an exemplar in renewable energy technologies."

Northumberland County Council leader, Michael Davey, said: "I am delighted that we are leading the way in promoting renewable energy.

"Deals like this one, brokered with npower, are vital for the sustainability of our environment."

Chris Allen, sales director for npower major business accounts, said: "Sustainable energy use is essential to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."