UK’s Green Deal Gets Cash Boost, EU-US Energy Council Discusses Trans-Atlantic Issues

Funds Made Available to Kick-Start Britain’s Green Deal

To boost the uptake of Britain’s Green Deal program for home retrofit financing, the U.K. government announced on Nov. 24, 2011 that it would provide £200 million ($312 million) in incentives to early adopters. Those who sign on to the program immediately after it opens next year could see savings in the hundreds of pounds. In a press release, Energy and Climate Secretary Chris Huhne said, “This big injection of government funding delivers on our promise to ensure the Green Deal hits the ground running, and make it as attractive as possible so that people start to benefit from day one.” A public comment period on the Green Deal program recently opened as well, allowing stakeholders and the public to provide input on the program.

Department of Energy & Climate Change Press Notice on the Green Deal
 

EU, US Officials meet in DC to Discuss Strategic Energy Cooperation

On a trans-national level, a high-level E.U. delegation met with key U.S. officials on Nov. 28 to discuss cooperation on a variety of strategic energy issues. The E.U.-U.S. Energy Council was led by U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu, E.U. High Representative Catherine Ashton, and E.U. Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger. Several topics related to energy efficiency and the smart grid were discussed, including: 

• Research collaboration on the integration of electric vehicles into the electrical grid,
• Common standards for Energy Star-labeled equipment in the United States and European Union,
• Energy storage in smart grid systems, and
• General improvement in research cooperation between E.U. and U.S. laboratories and researchers.

Joint Press Statement from the Council of the European Union (pdf)