| In a bid to become the greenest government | | | | could be used to generate electricity. Wind |
| ever, the Coalition has recently devised a plan to | | | | turbines are not efficient when mounted on most |
| allow public buildings to make a profit producing | | | | buildings, but a park setting allows the installation |
| and selling back energy generated by green | | | | of a pole-mounted turbine at a height of at least |
| technologies. Wind turbines, solar panels, and even | | | | 150 ft. Caution is advised in areas with scenic and |
| wave and tidal technologies will pay for | | | | historic views; alternatives to wind generators |
| themselves and generate income for councils | | | | should be used in these areas. |
| looking for ways to maintain financial stability in | | | | The goals of the project are multiple. Generating |
| difficult economic times. An energy saving smart | | | | significant quantities of green energy will help the |
| meter can monitor the energy saving that each | | | | Government meet its carbon emission reduction |
| installation provides. | | | | goals of cutting CO2 by one third in the next |
| The Local Government Act, established in 1976, | | | | decade. The money generated for councils will |
| has forbidden councils to sell excess power | | | | bolster local economies, and the highly visible |
| generated back to the grid in an attempt to | | | | nature of the installations will help foster a |
| protect the newly established private electric | | | | nationwide attitude of acceptance and pride in |
| companies of that time. This ban made it | | | | green technologies. |
| impossible for councils to profit from the sale of | | | | A major factor in this plan to green the UK is the |
| electricity generated using green technologies. The | | | | "Feed in Tariff" that subsidizes the generation of |
| reversal of the ban opens a new era of money | | | | electricity from green technologies. The |
| generation from solar and wind generators bring | | | | Government put this program, also known as the |
| revenue to local councils. The incentive is certainly | | | | "Clean Energy Cashback," into place in February |
| there now and it is expected that hundreds of | | | | 2010. It allows local governments and schools to |
| green generating units will quickly be installed along | | | | benefit from generating a portion of their own |
| with an accompanying energy monitor. | | | | electricity, assists in keeping energy costs down, |
| Solar panels placed on south facing walls or roofs | | | | and additionally allows profits from the sale of the |
| and wind generators placed strategically in car | | | | electricity produced. Each unit of electricity |
| parks could generate an average of 10,000 | | | | produced is financially rewarded by this |
| pounds per year for just a single installation on | | | | programme, no matter if it is used by the council |
| the town hall building. With most councils owning | | | | or put back into the grid. In addition, money is |
| multiple facilities, further installations could bring in | | | | generated by the portion of the power that is fed |
| considerably more than this amount. | | | | to the grid. The payments for the programme |
| Schools, hospitals, and parks are all sites that | | | | are guaranteed by law for 25 years. |