• DfT’s renewable fuels agency starts up
• Ruth Kelly wants 100g/km limit for new car CO2 emissions between 2020-2025
• Lloyds TSB autolease launches online environmental guide for fleets

A new agency to manage Britain's commitment to biofuels was established yesterday by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. The Renewable Fuels Agency will be responsible for the day to day running of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, coming into force in April next year. By 2010, the Obligation will mean that 5% of all the fuels sold in the UK should come from biofuels, which could save 2.6m-3m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

The Chairman of the Agency will be Professor Ed Gallagher, former Chief Executive of the Environment Agency. Joining Professor Gallagher on the Board of the Agency are Greg Archer, Director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Paul Jefferiss, Director of Environmental Policy at BP, Gareth Llewellyn, Director for Safety, Health, Environment and Corporate Responsibility for the National Grid, and Brian White, Director of the biofuel trading company, BionerG Ltd.

An appointment for the post of Chief Executive of the Agency will be made early next year.

The Renewable Fuels Agency will officially start work in April, when the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation comes into force. It will be based in Hastings, and was formed by the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation Order which completed its Parliamentary stages on Wednesday 24 October.

When the RTFO comes into force in April 2008 it will apply across the whole of the UK. Refiners, importers and any others who supply more than 450,000 litres of fossil-based road transport fuel to the UK market will be obligated by it. By 2010 it will require 5% of all UK fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source.

In an interview with The Times, the Rt. Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Transport, has urged the EU to adopt a target of 100g/km of CO2 for the average new car between 2020 and 2025. Ms Kelly considers this would give the industry “time to plan and aid development of new technology”. She also argued that low volume manufacturers such as Aston Martin and Bentley needed an alternative approach.

Friends of the Earth have urged an 80 g/km limit for 2020 - roughly halving the average CO2n emissions of the current UK new car market.

(www.business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article2781339.ec

Fleet managers who wish to make their fleets greener can access a new online environmental best practice guide from Lloyds TSB autolease. Compiled with the support of Don Potts, an environmental consultant, the online guide contains a comprehensive news section which is regularly updated, and carries news on subjects ranging from speeding fines to congestion charges and manufacturer announcements to global oil prices.

Topics covered include reducing mileage, managing cash takers, fuel management and carbon offsetting. Sections of the interactive guide can be downloaded, and the contact facility allows customers to ask a specialist for help and advice on making their fleet greener.

The guide can be found at:

www.lloydstsbautolease.co.uk/bestPractice