Back in Westminster, here’s a full update on the Energy Bill from Steve Shaw, Director of Power for People:
MPs call for community energy to be added in to the Great British Energy Bill
I write with an update on how the House of Commons debate on the Great British Energy Bill went last week, with regards to our collective efforts to promote community energy. Directly below is a short summary. Then, if you wish, further below, after my signature, is an in-depth article that we are about to publish.
Last week, MPs had their first chance to debate the Bill it at its Second Reading. At the debate, as a result of fantastic advocacy from community energy groups and individuals, several MPs, including Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat), Sarah Champion (Labour), Dave Doogan (SNP) and Adrian Ramsay (Green) stood up and called on energy ministers to include community energy in the Bill. Further to this, Jeremy Wright (Conservative) introduced a formal Parliamentary Questions in the same vein. This was an excellent show of support from both opposition and Labour MPs.
At the debate the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP, said,
“Great British Energy will deliver our local power plan, working with local authorities, combined authorities and communities to deliver the biggest expansion of support for community-owned energy in history.”
And Mr Miliband’s energy minister, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks MP, said this in his sum up for the Government at the end,
“Several Members raised the question of community energy, which is at the heart of the Bill. Local power generation is an essential part of the energy mix, ensuring that energy projects deliver not just a community benefit but the social outcomes that local communities need. Many Members mentioned that. … Community energy also reduces pressures on the transmission grid and the need for expensive investment, so community ownership will be critical. Great British Energy will deliver a step change in investment in local and community energy projects, putting local authorities and communities at the heart of the energy transition.”
These are welcome words and the fact that the energy minister chose to say that many MPs had raised community energy specifically is exactly the effect we wanted to have. However, clearly no commitment was given to do what we are calling for. We will, therefore, continue to organise for community energy’s inclusion as the Great British Energy Bill progresses through Parliament.
The next stage for the Bill is Committee, where around 15 MPs will debate the Bill, line by line, and may make and vote on amendments to it. This is set to conclude around mid-October. Then the Bill comes back before the Commons for Report stage, whereupon MPs debate it again and any MP may make amendments and those amendments are voted on by all MPs present.
Both these upcoming stages represent opportunities for us and many MPs – both Labour and opposition – and also several Peers from the House of Lords have contacted me asking that we co-ordinate cross-party amendments. This is highly encouraging.
Getting community energy explicitly mentioned in this flagship Government Bill is worth striving for, given the dramatic promises to support community energy made by the Labour party.
