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Community Energy Groups Lead Mass Lobby of MPs on ‘Drastic’ Renewables Cuts

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Over 30 community energy groups across the south west have today told their MPs that government cuts to renewable energy subsidies will lead to the loss of jobs and investment in their constituencies.

The call on MPs to act comes as part of the SW Community Energy Day of Action – a coordinated effort of communities across the south west to warn of the impact the government’s proposals will have on their local areas. Over 30 groups will lobby their MPs, including four community groups in Totnes who will hand deliver over 60 letters to local MP, Sarah Wollaston, warning that the jobs and investment renewable energy has brought to the local area are at risk of being lost.

MPs in the south west have already spoken out against the government’s plans with Frome MP David Warburton recently saying that “a drop of up to 87 per cent in subsidies overnight is draconian and more than I suspect the industry can bear.”

Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW, who are coordinating the Day of Action, said: “The message MPs across the south west will hear today from their local communities today is clear: unless they act now thousands of people will lose their jobs and investment in new energy projects will disappear.”

Ian Bright, managing director of TRESOC, said “Across the country, from solar rooftops in Brixton to hydro power plant in Totnes, concerned and informed citizens are driving exponential growth in the community energy sector. The government should carefully consider the impacts of the proposed drastic reduction in Feed in Tariff payments on the community energy sector and the wider UK economy.”

Alastair Mumford, director of Exeter Community Energy, said “It is exciting to know we are part of a grassroots movement in the south west challenging the government’s drastic cuts to support for renewable energy. Hugo Swires MP has agreed to raise our concerns and has tabled Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State, Amber Rudd MP.

Concerns about the impacts of the cuts has also been raised by three Local Enterprise Partnerships who have written jointly to the Chancellor.

 

MPs that have been lobbied by local businesses and groups

MPGroup or business
Anne Marie Morris MP, Newton AbbotTeign Community Energy
Claire Perry MP, DevizesT H White
Damian Green MP, AshfordGreenman solar
David Warburton MP, Somerton and FromeT H White
Gary Streeter MP, South West DevonYealm Energy Community

PL.21

Tamar Community Energy

Plymouth Energy Community

Geoffrey Cox MP, Torridge and West DevonPL:21

Buckland Monochorum

Tamar Energy Community

Teign Energy Community

George Eustace MP, Camborne, Redruth and HayleZlC Energy

Wattstor

Hugo Swire MP, East DevonExeter Community Energy

SidEnergy

Huw Merriman MP, Bexhill and BattleNuvision Energy
Johnny Mercer MP, PlymouthPlymouth Energy Community
James Heappey MP, WellsExeter Community Energy
Michelle Donelan MP, ChippenhamT H White
Oliver Colville MP, Plymouth Sutton and DevonportPlymouth Energy Community
Oliver Letwin MP, West DorsetDorset Community Energy
Peter Heaton-Jones MP, North Devon361 Energy

Source Renewables

RES (Devon)

Solar PV tech

Robert Buckland MP, South SwindonT H White
Sarah Newton MP, Truro and FalmouthTruro  Renewable energy
Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, TotnesTotnes Renewable Energy Society

Transition Town Totnes

South Brent Community Energy Society South Devon Coastal Renewable Energy Network

New Generation Biogas

Scott Mann MP, North CornwallBude Energy Community
Tobias Ellwood MP, Bournemouth EastFuturewise Renewables
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