Error In Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Legislation

EDM number 459 in 2008-09, proposed by Norman Baker on 14/01/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Renewable energy.

That this House welcomes the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) which came into force on 15 April 2008, obliging oil companies to replace a certain percentage of their fossil fuels with biofuels with current targets at 2008-09 2.5 per cent., 2009-10 3.75 per cent. and 5 per cent. by 2010-11; notes that in October 2008, the Government discovered a serious mistake in the legal definition for relevant fossil fuel, such that if petrol or diesel is blended with a small proportion of biofuel the entire fuel no longer needs to comply with the RTFO target and that therefore oil companies will be able to meet this year's obligation without supplying another litre of biofuel; further notes that this will thereby potentially reduce the amount of greenhouse gases saved this year to half what it would have been; recognises that due to the way the RTFO system operates further effects which reduce greenhouse gas savings will be seen in 2009-10; calls on the Government to introduce proposals to correct the drafting error so that the originally-intended targets apply to this financial year; further calls on the Government to remedy the impact in future years by not reducing the RTFO targets for 2009-10 (to 3 per cent.) and 2010-11 (to 3.5 per cent.); and request that, if this is not done the Government consider offering to buy the certificates generated in excess of a company's obligation, if any, under the original interpretation of the RTFO Order.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.