Energy Ministers’ statements on our Local Electricity Campaign
Supportive responses from Government Ministers
Lord Whitehead, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Lords, debate on the Local Power Plan, 11th February 2026
“[John Whitby MP] makes an essential point about the ability to sell this power back into the grid. I assure him that we are working on this with Ofgem to improve the offer to local community groups, because it is an essential part of ensuring that economic value goes to groups, including those in his constituency.”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, debate on the Local Power Plan, 10th February 2026
“The regulatory system needs to make it much more straightforward for community energy groups to get up and operate, but then also to benefit from being able to sell their electricity locally. There are ways - and we want to explore this further - around how we can support local energy networks so that there are communities directly benefiting from genuinely selling the electricity locally.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s ‘Unlocking community energy at scale’ oral evidence session, 28th January 2026
“[Jess Brown-Fuller MP] is right about the virtues of community energy. Great British Energy is going to partner with local communities to deliver community energy up and down the country. […] I want to assure her that we are going through the different barriers in granular, nerdy detail to see how we can break them down. ”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions, 15th July 2025
“We are absolutely determined to do it. He is right to make the point about delivering clean power that benefits local communities, so that they can buy it locally and really see the benefit of hosting it. That is exactly what we are determined to do and we will continue to work to make it happen.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions, 15th July 2025
“We agree about the importance of community energy and are looking at a range of things, in particular at how communities might sell power locally.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero The Planning and Infrastructure Bill’s fourth Commons Committee sitting, 29th April 2025
“As the noble Earl, Lord Russell, kindly said, I very much share in the support for community energy, and I assure him that it will be an integral part of Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan.”
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Former Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Lords, the Great British Energy Bill’s committee stage debate, 3rd December 2024
“I do accept […] that community energy has huge potential in itself and as a way to leverage public support generally for the kinds of changes that we need to see happen. We certainly believe that GBE will deliver a step change in investment in local community energy projects and will work strongly in partnership with local authorities and community groups to deliver this.”
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Former Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Lords, the Great British Energy Bill’s second reading debate, 18th November 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, […] ensuring that community energy projects can be delivered, with all the changes to planning and governance that are required to make that happen.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, the Great British Energy Bill’s Third Reading debate, 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.”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, the Great British Energy Bill’s Third Reading debate, 29th October 2024
“Great British Energy’s role will be to build upon existing community energy schemes under way across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will build on that experience to contribute more where it can.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero ‘Renewable Energy Projects: Community Benefits’ Westminster Hall debate, 15th October 2024
“[Support for community energy] will be an integral part not just of Great British Energy, but of the Government’s entire energy strategy. That is why the Local Power Plan is a key part of Great British Energy’s delivery model, and it goes broader than GB Energy, to every other part of Government policy on energy.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, the Great British Energy Bill’s committee stage debate, 10th October 2024
“We are committed to our Local Power Plan, which will deliver investment in community-owned projects. Great British Energy will have a key role to play in supporting communities, capacity building and in that initial funding to help them deliver these projects.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions, 8th October 2024
“As a country, we are massively underpowered on community energy. As part of the GB Energy Local Power Plan we will be trying to change that, learning from countries such as Germany and Denmark, which do much better than us.”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions, 8th October 2024
“Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will deliver the biggest expansion of support for community-owned energy in British history and ensure benefits flow directly to local communities, part of our commitment that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should benefit from it.”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Energy UK conference, 17th 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. […] Great British Energy will deliver a step change in investment in local and community energy projects.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, the Great British Energy Bill’s second reading debate, 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.”
Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, the Great British Energy Bill’s second reading debate, 5th September 2024
“We are pursuing [direct local selling] through the Local Power Plan, and we intend for that to happen.”
Katie White MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions in the House of Commons, 2nd June 2026
“We need to support communities in developing the project, then creating a market in which they can sell electricity locally. We are working with Ofgem and partners to ensure that can happen, and we will say more in due course.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Energy Security and Net Zero Oral Answers to Questions, 2nd June 2026
“Indeed, we see those things as an essential part of the move forward with the Local Power Plan, so that communities can, for example, start to trade in local energy.”
Lord Whitehead, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, speaking at the Local Power Plan debate in the House of Lords, 11th February 2026
“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.”
Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, ‘Making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower’ debate, 26th July 2024
Below are statements from Energy Ministers of previous governments
“We see value in, and support, community energy […] The Government recognises 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.”
Graham Stuart MP, Former Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero House of Commons, Adjournment debate, 13th September 2023
“I know that the House is keen on supporting community energy, and we are the same.”
Lord Callanan, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy House of Lords, Energy Bill debate, 12th 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.”
Andrew Bowie MP, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero Energy Bill Committee, 5th September 2023
“We continue to look at what more the Government can do to support community energy projects across the United Kingdom. [….] I have always been, and remain, committed to supporting community-led energy groups. 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.”
Andrew Bowie MP, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero Energy Bill Committee, 29th June 2023
“Community energy projects can have real benefits for the communities in which they are based.”
Andrew Bowie MP, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero Energy Bill Committee, 22nd June 2023
“Many Members raised community energy schemes, which I strongly agree have a role to play in tackling climate change.”
Andrew Bowie MP, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero Energy Bill Committee, 9th May 2023
“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.”
Lord Callanan, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy House of Lords, the Energy Bill’s Grand Committee, 19th December 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.”
Greg Hands, Former Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ‘Energy Security Strategy’ Westminster Hall debate, 5th July 2022
“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.”
Greg Hands, Former Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ‘Community Energy Schemes’ Westminster Hall debate, 30th November 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.”
Amanda Solloway, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ‘Enabling Community Energy’ backbench business debate, 21st July 2021
“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. […] he supports supports a campaign for electricity generators to sell directly to local consumers, for all the benefits he suggested in terms of local employment […] and those arguments are fully appreciated.”
Kwasi Kwarteng, Former Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ‘Community Energy Schemes’ Westminster Hall debate, 30th November 2021