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Introduction and Apologies
Fiona Swan gave an overview of the first steering group meeting and key actions that came out of the meeting. The minutes of the meeting are attached for your information.
Review of Make up of Sub Group
The meeting was well attended by people from various sectors. However, it was agreed that there were still some gaps that needed to be filled, i.e. a representative from the solar sector. There is a lack of elected members, LA21 & sustainability officers, and planning officers. There was no-one from MTCI groups, DAVC, and a representative from Enviroskills.
ACTION FS & GD to ensure these people are invited to the next meeting.
PB also raised the issue as to whether the sub group should only be made up of representatives from Devon or should be open to national organisations. It was agreed that renewable energy suppliers who attend are from the south west region in the first instance and where this is not possible from a company who has an interest in the region.
Chairs Report (Selection of chair)
PB suggested that the chair of the group should ideally be one of the existing steering group members. It was agreed that the chair of the renewable energy sub group will be either Tony Norton or Paul Baker with the potential to share the role.
Sub Group Action Plan
From the action plan, all the Objectives and most of the Key tasks that had been identified in the DSEN Renewable Energy Workshops were examined. Because of the sheer volume of tasks to be addressed it was felt that they needed prioritising, and it was this along with the urgency of responding to the Regional Spatial Strategy that prompted us to focus on issues relating to Local Authorities. It was decided a Local Authority working group would be established.
ACTION: DSEN as a group need to respond to the regional spatial strategy and an L.A. working group to be formed, in order to collate a response from DSEN to the strategy, by September. Since the meeting it has now been agreed that it would be best to convene this meeting further to the REgen SW/GOSW Regional Renewable Energy Policy Seminar on the 19th July. DSEN secretariat will organise this.
The fact that transport has not been included raised some concern. Transport was mentioned prior to the set up of DSEN and decided by the steering group not to be included.
Devon County Council has produced a renewable energy for Devon document with 5 case studies. Here is the link to the document: http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/business/regeneration/renewable_energy/a_renewable_energy_guide_for_devon_2004.htm
Projects Update
Due to time restraints Jon Harvey gave a short briefing about the following two projects.
Langage Gas Power Station proposal, implications for renewables.
Economic breakthrough in bioalcohol production from (ligno-)cellulosic
crops, implications for transport fuel in UK.
Bioscope results.
Two presentations were given by Dr. Robin Cotton, of Renewable Heat and Power Ltd.
and David Venner, Project Manager for High Bickington Community Property Trust
AOB – there was none.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 13th September
Senate Room, Northcote house
Exeter University
1.30pm - 4.00pm
