UK manifesto: Energy: Renewable, non-polluting forms of energy

The Natural Law Party will provide incentives for domestic and industrial conversions to systems using renewable energy sources. We would like to see a much more vigorous approach to solar power generation, both photo-voltaic (for production of electricity) and thermal (for production of heat).

The privatisation of the power industries has led to a reduction in research, and there has been a growing dependence on natural gas to fulfil Britain's power requirements. The Natural Law Party sees the urgent need for further research into renewables and diversification in the areas where we as a nation are consuming power.

The privatisation of the power industry has also led to serious social problems especially in the less wealthy areas of society. Programmes involving, for example, prepayment of domestic fuel bills need to be carefully assessed for their economic and social impact.

Deregulation of public transport, especially buses in cities, is leading to some serious congestion and pollution problems.

To keep the fulfilment of our energy and environmental needs in balance, Britain must proceed simultaneously on two parallel paths: energy conservation and the development of renewable, non-polluting forms of energy production and raw material usage

The problem of city pollution will be addressed in terms of long-term restructuring of city layouts with more cross-ventilation, at the same time as encouraging the use of electric vehicles within city boundaries. Hybrid vehicles (diesel-electric) for both private and public transport will be encouraged as an interim solution for vehicles that have to journey both within and outside cities. However, the long-term goal of vehicles should be zero-pollution under all conditions, which will also help preserve precious oil reserves.

Immediate attention must be given to large-scale pollution problems such as the North Sea.

To keep the fulfilment of our energy and environmental needs in balance, Britain must proceed simultaneously on two parallel paths: energy conservation and the development of renewable, non-polluting forms of energy production and raw material usage. The Natural Law Party will promote both. This will be achieved by appropriate favourable tax treatment and by encouraging:

research on energy efficiency; energy storage; alternative forms of energy; and energy-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles,
performance standards for energy-consuming and/or pollution-emitting products,
energy-efficient and pollution-free measures at home and at work,
the continued development of Local Agenda 21 programmes, which implement strategies for sustainable development at the community level,
businesses that make environmentally friendly products,
the development and use by industry of non-polluting, renewable forms of energy production and raw materials,
the prohibition of the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment, including their use in the treatment of waste and especially in the human food chain.