Energy Ministers’ statements in response to our
community energy campaign

Below are statements from Energy Ministers expressing support for enabling more community renewable energy.

Ed Miliband MP

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Great British Energy Bill’s Third Reading debate in the House of Commons on 29th October 2024:

“I know that many Members of the House are passionate about the issue of local power, so let me reassure them that the Government are committed to delivering the biggest expansion of support for community-owned energy in history.”

Speaking at the Great British Energy Bill’s Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on 5th September 2024:

“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.”

Michael Shanks MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Great British Energy Bill’s Report Stage debate in the House of Commons on 29th October 2024:

“[…] I am passionate about community energy, as are the Government. It will form an integral part of Great British Energy’s local power plan, which will put communities at the heart of the energy transition, giving them a stake in the shift to net zero. As a member of not just the Labour party but the Co-operative party, that is at the heart of my politics and that of many of my hon. Friends. We have been advocating for community energy for decades—this is not a new idea for us—and empowering communities is critical. The hon. Lady and I share that passion and a commitment to community energy.

I can assure the House that the Department is looking to take a cross-government approach—not just through Great British Energy but, crucially, on a number of the points that have been made—to ensuring that community energy projects can be delivered, with all the changes to planning and governance that are required to make that happen.”

Speaking at the Great British Energy Bill’s Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on 5th September 2024:

“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.”

Speaking at the ‘Making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower’ debate in the House of Commons on 26th July 2024:

“One of the missions of GB Energy will be around the idea of community-owned power. We have to bring two things together: we want communities to be in the driving seat of much of this in the future, but also to have some sense of ownership of the assets. We also know that some of the smaller generation projects can be the most successful. If we can bring together the benefits of community ownership with smaller-scale generation projects, that would deal with some of the issues regarding the grid and network, because we would not be trying to bring power to communities from far away. There is real appetite for that, and it is some of the early work that GB Energy will do.”

Below are statements from Energy Ministers of previous governments expressing support for enabling more community renewable energy.

Graham Stuart MP

Then Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking during the House of Common’s adjournment debate on 13th September 2023:

“We see value in, and support, community energy, including co-operatives that come together to create community energy projects.”

“The Government recognise that community energy projects have real benefits for the communities in which they are based and for the nation as a whole, and we are keen to ensure that they deliver value for money for consumers nationally and locally alike.”

Andrew Bowie MP

Then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Energy Bill Committee on 5th September 2023:

“The Government recognise that community energy projects can have real benefits for the communities in which they are based, and are keen to ensure that they deliver value for money for consumers.”

Speaking at the Energy Bill Committee on 29th June 2023:

“We continue to look at what more the Government can do to support community energy projects across the United Kingdom, and I will commit to provide an update on the next steps ahead of Report.”

“I have always been, and remain, committed to supporting community-led energy groups across the country. That is why we are working to implement schemes to support those projects across the entire UK. We will continue to do so, and I will be their biggest champion.”

Speaking at the Energy Bill Committee on 22nd June 2023:

“Community energy projects can have real benefits for the communities in which they are based.”

Speaking at the Energy Bill’s Second Reading in the House of Commons on 9th May 2023:

“Many Members raised community energy schemes, which I strongly agree have a role to play in tackling climate change.”

Lord Callanan

Then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, speaking at the Energy Bill debate in the House of Lords on 12th September 2023:

“I know that the House is keen on supporting community energy, and we are the same.”

Speaking at the Energy Bill’s Grand Committee in the House of Lords on 19th December 2022:

“I will answer that question again: the Government are supportive of community energy schemes. We want to see more of them, but we think that is best delivered through the market framework.”

Greg Hands

Then Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, speaking at the ‘Energy Security Strategy’ Westminster Hall Debate on 5th July 2022:

“My hon. Friend has been a consistent and dedicated promoter of the Local Electricity Bill. He is right that there is good consensus on this. The Government support local electricity generation.”

Then Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, speaking at the ‘Community Energy Schemes’ Westminster Hall Debate on 30th November 2021:

“I will start by reassuring the House that the Government recognise the role community and locally owned renewable energy schemes can and do play in supporting the UK’s national net zero targets.”

Amanda Solloway MP

Then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, speaking at the ‘Enabling Community Energy’ Backbench Business Debate on 21st July 2021:

“I reassure the House that this Government absolutely recognise the valuable role that community and local renewable energy projects can and do play in supporting the UK’s national net zero targets.”

Kwasi Kwarteng

Then Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, speaking at the ‘Electricity Generation: Local Suppliers’ Adjournment Debate on 14th October 2020:

“The hon. Member [for Ceredigion] has spoken eloquently about the need for local communities to be able to supply electricity, and I think there are strong arguments in its favour. … I know that the hon. Member for Ceredigion supports a campaign for electricity generators to sell directly to local consumers, for all the benefits he suggested in terms of local employment. I think he or one of the many intervenors used the phrase ‘local buy-in’, and those arguments are fully appreciated.”