Renewable energy plans kicked out

Published on Tuesday 8 December 2009 08:52

CITY leaders have blocked proposals to insist that medium-sized developments in the Capital install renewable energy systems.

Councillor Steve Burgess, environment spokesman for the Green group on the city council, had called for the council's planning standards to be brought into line with the Scottish Government's approach. The move was opposed by planning leader Jim Lowrie, meaning that only developments over 1,000 square metres have to install renewable energy sources.

Cllr Burgess said: "I'm dismayed about this. Global talks about the need to reduce climate-changing pollution are taking place in Copenhagen and yet this council can't even live up to even the most minimal environmental standards.

"With climate change looming, we should be asking all new developments to install solar panels and other clean energy sources yet we can't even get larger developments to install a very minimal amount of clean energy."