Draft Strategic Energy Framework consultation response

NICVA welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation. In the context of the current recession and of climate change, NICVA has recently been working in partnership with a number of other organisations in Northern Ireland to put forward a Green New Deal proposal.

We believe that energy has a key part to play, not only in securing our economy and in contributing to the reduction of our climate-damaging carbon, but in creating and securing jobs and investment in Northern Ireland and increasing our competitiveness. We feel this approach is particularly important since, while macro-economic policy is reserved to Westminster, the key policy levers -- industrial and energy policy, education and training, the environment and social policy -- are in devolved hands.

NICVA would also advocate wider consideration of different ownership models for energy infrastructure in general. Since the public are generally suspicious of private profits made by energy suppliers, as mentioned above, mutual or non-profit distributing models should be properly explored as part of the energy framework.