Regional Energy Forum

The Assembly hosts the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Energy Forum. The purpose of the Forum is to ensure that a strategic approach to energy is developed and implemented in Yorkshire and Humber as required by the Energy White Paper.

The objectives of the Regional Energy Forum are:

• To consider the regional and local implications of all aspects of energy policy, in particular the shift to a low carbon economy, reliability of supply, competitiveness and energy efficiency and action to tackle fuel poverty;
• To provide a focus and facilitate more effective regional involvement in the development and implementation of national energy policy:
• To influence how the region and local areas deliver national and regional energy policy objectives, and
• To improve engagement in energy issues at regional and local levels.

The Forum concentrates on key issues for energy policy in Yorkshire and Humber. These include:

• Planning framework for energy
• Renewable energy / renewable obligation / climate change levy
• Business competitiveness
• More efficient use of energy by business, households and transport
• Influencing national policy
• Integrating energy in regional policy
• Fuel poverty
• Impacts and opportunities for regional business arising from EU Directives
• Awareness raising

David Bowe, from the UK Coal Task Force, chairs the Forum and members are drawn from energy sectors in the region, key regional agencies, Government departments and energy users. The Forum meets on a quarterly basis.

View minutes of meetings from this link.

Vision for Coal

The Regional Energy Forum oversaw the production and publication of the Vision for Coal in March 2006.

The aim of the report is to create a sustainable low carbon energy future for the region by capitalising on its geography, infrastructure and technical know-how.

It says within the next 15 years, carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired electricity generation would be reduced by 50 per cent compared with current levels. And the region’s capacity to burn renewable biomass fuel, such as tree and plant material, with coal will be boosted.

You can download your copy of the report below.