7 March 2005
In a move expected to be emulated throughout the UK, power company London Energy Green has confirmed that West Sussex will be supplied with green electricity for as from next month.
According to Mid Sussex Times today, the first stage will be the lighting of more than 64,000 street lights and 10,000 signs in the region with domestic usage expected shortly after.
The move means that the county council will easily exceed its 2005 target of purchasing a minimum 25 per cent of its electricity needs from renewable sources.
Lieutenant colonel Tex Pemberton, West Sussex county council cabinet member for highways and transport, expressed his delight at the news.
"I am delighted the new electricity contract will be making such a significant contribution to the county council's 'green' objectives.
"The new contract, at £1.8 million p.a. is £427,000 and 35 per cent a year more than the previous contract which was awarded in 2003. It is a large increase but we simply have not been immune to rising prices in this sector.
"There have been rapid, and exceptional increases in energy costs resulting from the war in Iraq, run down of North Sea oil and gas reserves, and increased demands for oil from China.
"However, we are satisfied that we have achieved the best possible terms, thanks to being part of a Central Buying Consortium involving several other local authorities, and have a fixed price for the next two years in what is a very volatile market."
The electricity involved will be sourced from hydro-electric, landfill gas, tidal and onshore and off-shore wind.
Independent price comparisons for energy suppliers at uSwitch.com.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
Content for the uSwitch.com market news service is provided by a third party, Adfero Ltd. Whilst uSwitch.com makes reasonable efforts to check the reliability of this content, uSwitch.com does not guarantee the accuracy thereof or endorse the views or opinions given by Adfero Ltd, unless expressly stated otherwise.