Last year we campaigned successfully for a green electricity tariff. The MEA promised to think about it & we expect an announcement in summer 2010. More info - Click here

This year we're campaigning on microgeneration. To sign our postcard - scroll down the page.

* NB - This campaign has won first prize at the Friends of the Earth Campaign Awards for the North West Region.

Microgeneration is great because:

* It helps cut CO2 emissions & reduces our impact on climate change
* It reduces pressure on the Grid
* It makes people more independent & aware of their energy consumption
* It helps protect our children's future

Most microgenerators are just ordinary people. But schools, farms, churches, & clubs could also generate their own electricity. To do this they would use small scale wind turbines, solar panels, waterwheels, biomass, geothermal devices or other equipment.

Sounds good? Well, there are two problems.

First, imagine you have a small wind turbine. The wind blows at night even though you're asleep - so what do you do with the surplus electricity? Selling excess power to the Grid helps create extra electricity for the Island - it also helps pay for the turbine.

To make microgeneration affordable the Grid needs to pay a fair price for the excess electricity they buy. In the UK excess energy can be sold to the Grid for around 30p/kWh. Here the MEA pays just 4p/kWh.

Secondly, other potential microgenerators are put off because of the time it takes to get planning permission. As part of DLGE's planning changes we hope microgeneration devices will become 'permitted developments', so that more people will consider generating their own electricity.

Or - Print off a copy of the postcard (below). Then fill it in, send it back to us, and we'll collect them & present them to government. If you choose this option please address you envelope to: Phil Corlett, IoM FoE, Green Centre, Chester Street, Douglas, Isle of Man.

Microgeneration is good because:
* It helps cut CO2 emissions & reduces our impact on climate change
* It reduces pressure on the Grid
* It makes people more independent & aware of their energy consumption
* It helps protect our children's future

I support a fairer deal for microgenerators. There should be a higher rate paid for excess electricity sold to the Grid, and installing small-scale generating equipment should become a permitted development (unless it's in a conservation area).

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