Naturally they are fundraising too although with no obligation to take part. A short video also shows clips from the debate in the Lords.
On the Monday before Christmas, we made another stride forward in our campaign to create dramatic growth in community renewable energy generation.
This time the setting was the House of Lords, where our two amendments to the Government’s Energy Bill were debated. To recap, these amendments are based on our Local Electricity Bill, which would enable community energy schemes to sell their clean power to local people, thus triggering a surge in community renewable energy generation.
I went in person and watched the proceedings, which involved supportive Lords and Baronesses from the Greens, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Crossbenchers (of which there are over 180), pushing the Energy Minister, Lord Callanan, hard for Government support.
When the Minister failed to state support in his response – as we expected at this stage – he was given a tough time by the Lords and Baronesses present. This rather rattled him and he ended with: “I say without much optimism that I hope noble Lords are reassured that the Government recognise the role that community-owned and locally owned renewable energy schemes can play in supporting the UK’s national net-zero targets.”
These words show we achieved what we intended: the Government see the situation, which is that we likely have enough support in the House of Lords to win a vote on our two amendments at the next stage of the Energy Bill, which will probably be in early February.
If this happens, it would mean that the Energy Bill would come to the House of Commons, probably around March, with our community energy enabling powers contained in it. And with all opposition parties and 125 Conservative MPs lined up in support because of our nationwide public campaign, we are in a strong position to see what we are calling for ultimately pass into law.
Baronesses and Lords came up to me in the corridor after, shaking my hand and expressing congratulations on how much public and Parliamentary support we have built. They offered to keep helping and to give their backing at the next stage.
After a much-needed bit of Christmas rest, we are now working to bring Ministers and Whitehall officials to the negotiating table.
Thank you for your support in getting us this far. A special thank you if you make a regular donation – your contribution is invaluable.
We are urgently in need of more funds. A regular donation will enable us to gain more Parliamentary support, hold public events across the country and put in the time and effort needed to win this campaign in 2023. Any amount you can give will be helpful.
Together we can transform things.
Steve Shaw
Director
Power for People
