Commons looks at Private Members' Bills

• Commons Hansard: Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill
• Video and Audio: Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill
• Research Paper: RP 09/63 Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill (PDF)
• About Parliament: Report stage

The Bill, sponsored by Peter Ainsworth MP, seeks to define and promote 'green energy'. It aims to facilitate the development of green energy by:

• requiring a review and revision of the Government’s microgeneration strategy, including feed-in tariffs
• changing permitted development rights in planning law to facilitate the installation of domestic-scale wind turbines or air source heat pumps
• ensuring that any increase in the value of a domestic property caused by the installation of energy efficiency measures or microgeneration systems will not result in higher council tax or, similarly, in higher rates bills for non-domestic properties.

MPs also debated the second reading of the Industrial Carbon emissions (Targets) Bill sponsored by Charles Kennedy MP.

The Bill makes provision for the establishment of carbon emissions performance targets for electricity generating stations; and for connected purposes. At the end of the debate Mr Kennedy withdrew his Bill in view of the current consultation on the issue and the likelihood of a Government energy bill in the next session of Parliament later this year.

• Commons Hansard: Industrial Carbon emissions (Targets) Bill
• Video and Audio: Industrial Carbon emissions (Targets) Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Industrial Carbon emissions (Targets) Bill

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Members of the Lords who aren't government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population.