Highlights of the Energy Security Parliamentary Debate

“Another issue that the Energy Security Strategy ignores is the enormous potential for community energy to contribute to a more secure and resilient energy supply in the UK.”

These were the words of Mick Whitley, Birkenhead MP, at a debate in Parliament on Tuesday this week as he called for the UK’s hugely promising community energy sector to deliver locally generated, clean electricity directly to local households and businesses.

The debate, secured by Mr Whitley, focused MPs on the Government’s much anticipated Energy Security Strategy, which precedes the Energy Bill – also introduced this week and the first major piece of energy legislation in almost 10 years.

David Johnston MP and Wera Hobhouse MP, previous sponsors of the Local Electricity Bill, continued the cross-party call to enable community energy, with Peter Dowd MP challenging the Government’s current position on the Bill.

The Energy Minister, present at the debate, responded by affirming the Government’s support for local electricity generation, but not for the enabling mechanism that we are campaigning for. 

Watch our highlights video below.

What happens next?

The Government’s Energy Bill was introduced into Parliament this week. When it is debated, we need many MPs to speak in favour of ensuring that it enables community energy schemes.

If you have already asked your MP to do this - thank you. Please send us any reply you receive.

We must ensure that community energy groups are able to play a key role in our future energy system.

Please get involved in this campaign and take action.

Watch the full debate here.

Together we can transform things.