ENERGYQUOTE JHA
2nd JUNE 2015
GREEN TUESDAY • Data Management • Legislation • Compliance
A Unique Perspective
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A Unique Perspective | Green Tuesday | 02.06.2015
EU: Queen’s Speech 2015: environmental implications
The Queens’s speech set out the legislative programme for the 2015-16 Parliamentary session
The Queen’s Speech was delivered on 27 May 2015. It sets out the legislative programme for the 2015-16 Parliamentary session, including the various Bills that the government intends to introduce. The main announcement relevant to environmental practitioners is the introduction of an Energy Bill aimed at increasing energy security. Its main elements will be to: • Devolve consent for large onshore wind farms over 50 megawatts (MW) to the local planning authority (LPA). • Establish the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). • Introduce fee schemes for the environmental regulation of oil and gas. This means that the regulator will be able to charge for services to industry.
Devolve consent for large onshore wind farms The Energy Bill will make legislative changes to remove the need for the Secretary of State’s consent for any large onshore wind farms over 50 MW in England and Wales. This will devolve existing consenting powers from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to LPAs, which will become the primary decision maker for onshore wind consents. These changes will: • Be supported by changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to give effect to the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment that local communities should have the final say on planning applications for wind farms. • Not impact on the planning regime in Scotland and Northern Ireland. DECC is considering how the proposals will apply to Wales, which may have decisions on onshore wind up to 250 MW devolved to it.
The main announcement relevant to environmental practitioners is the introduction of an Energy Bill aimed at increasing energy security
The government plans to deliver its manifesto commitment to end new subsidies for onshore wind farms separately
The government plans to deliver its manifesto commitment to end new subsidies for onshore wind farms separately. DECC will announce measures to implement this soon, including consultations.
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A Unique Perspective | Green Tuesday | 02.06.2015
Creation of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) The Energy Bill will give the government the power to establish the OGA, which will regulate domestic oil and gas recovery. In March 2015, the previous government had announced the creation of the OGA to implement the 2014 Wood Review into how to maximise economic recovery of remaining North Sea oil and gas. The Energy Bill will:
The Energy Bill will give the government the power to establish the OGA, which will regulate domestic oil and gas recovery
• Transfer the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change’s existing regulatory powers to the OGA. The Secretary of State’s regulatory functions in relation to the environment would not be transferred. • Give the OGA additional powers, including in relation to: access to company meetings; data acquisition, retention and transfer; dispute resolution; and sanctions. • Increase OGA’s ability to charge, so that those who directly benefit from its services and functions bear its costs. The Queen’s Speech says that the establishment of the OGA will be a further measure to improve energy security. The government also states that:
The Queen’s Speech says that the establishment of the OGA will be a further measure to improve energy security
• Given the right business conditions to promote investment, the UK’s oil and gas industry can continue to supply a significant proportion of the country’s energy needs to 2020 and beyond. • It will continue to invest in new energy infrastructure, such as new nuclear and renewables, as well as exploring for gas.
Charges for environmental regulation of oil and gas The Energy Bill will introduce fee schemes for the environmental regulation of oil and gas. This means that the regulator will be able to charge for services to industry.
The Energy Bill will introduce fee schemes for the environmental regulation of oil and gas
The substantive provisions will extend to the UK’s territorial waters and the UK’s Continental Shelf (UKCS). However, in order to respect the relevant devolution settlements, the licensing of onshore exploration and extraction of oil and gas will be devolved in respect of Scotland and Wales.
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A Unique Perspective | Green Tuesday | 02.06.2015
EU: Circular economy: European Commission publishes consultation on policy options
On 28 May 2015, the European Commission published a consultation on the policy options for its revised circular economy initiative
On 28 May 2015, the European Commission published a consultation on the policy options for its revised circular economy initiative, which follows the February 2015 withdrawal of its initial July 2014 package of measures to encourage a circular economy. The consultation asks for views on the policy options to develop the circular economy relating to: • Waste, reuse, repair and recycling of products. • Intelligent product design and sustainable consumption.
The consultation asks for views on the policy options to develop the circular economy
• Smart use of raw materials and stronger markets for secondary raw materials. • Specific sectorial measures. The consultation follows publication of the Commission’s roadmap on 11 May 2015 (see Green Tuesday 19th May 2015). It closes on 20 August 2015.
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