The campaign group Power for People has thanked Bath MP Wera Hobhouse for supporting a new Bill in Parliament that would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean energy generation.
The proposed new law, known as the Local Electricity Bill, is being supported by 187 MPs.
If made law, it would create a new ‘Right to Local Supply’ of energy that would empower communities to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and businesses.
Currently, customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities.
The Bill’s supporters say this means that the money people use to pay their energy bills is not helping to rebuild local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.
Campaigning group Power for People are calling for MPs and the government to make the Bill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB. 44 local authorities have also pledged their support.
Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said, “We thank Wera Hobhouse for supporting the Local Electricity Bill.
“If made law, the Bill would unleash the huge potential for new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs, services, and facilities in communities across the country.”
Wera Hobhouse, said: “The Local Electricity Bill will help us accomplish two important goals. First, it will empower and enable new community energy companies to sell energy they generate directly to local people which will help strengthen local economies.
“This would be a big win for Bath and for the rest of our country given the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“Second but equally important, the Bill will also help accelerate our transition to clean energy, which is critical in avoiding the potential economic and ecological devastation of climate change.
“I will do all that I can to ensure it becomes law.”
