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

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