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Next Government must champion Community Energy, says Friends of the Earth – ahead of Manchester Green Power Conference

news release

The next Government must remove barriers to the development of the UK’s huge community renewable energy potential and make this sector a top priority, Friends of the Earth said today (Thursday 26 February) ahead of a major green energy conference in Manchester.

The environmental charity said that despite introducing the UK’s first community energy strategy in January 2014, too many Government policies were actively discouraging local people and businesses from developing green power sources – such as solar, hydro and wind. For example:

• New rules have made it harder for communities to establish green energy co-operatives. New co-ops are now being turned down because they sell the electricity they produce to the grid, and not to their members.

• The Chancellor used his most recent Autumn Statement to remove financial incentives for community energy schemes.

In Germany over 27% of the electricity (over 25 gigawatts) generated in the first nine months of 2014, came from renewable sources – and over half of this was supplied by communities and small businesses. In the UK less than half a gigawatt is from communities or small businesses.

Friends of the Earth says that community energy could and should be the driving force behind the UK’s transformation to a low-carbon economy. It has issued a seven point action plan [see below] ahead of the general election, which it is asking political parties to support to encourage communities and small businesses to invest in clean energy.

The call for greater support for community energy schemes comes as local organisations and public sector representatives gather in Manchester to take part in ‘Powering Up North’. The conference will feature successful community energy schemes and will look at the opportunities and challenges of developing community renewable energy.

Friends of the Earth renewable energy campaigner Anna Watson said:

“Community energy should be the driving force behind a UK green energy revolution, but not enough is being done to give power to the people.

“Despite all the barriers, local organisations and small businesses are doing fabulous work, but if the Government and local authorities really got behind them community-owned renewable energy schemes could really take off.”

Kate Gilmartin from Greater Manchester Community Renewables said:

“Giving communities the opportunity to invest in renewable energy is really key to helping us secure a sustainable future. It brings real benefits such as raising awareness of energy issues, reducing fuel poverty, providing local funds for local projects and tackling climate change.

“National and local government must listen to community energy groups, and help them realise their full potential in the fight against climate change.”

Friends of the Earth is calling on all political parties to show support for community energy by:

• Pledging to have fitted six million domestic solar rooftop systems by 2020;

• Introducing measures to enable every school in the UK to go solar – including allowing schools to borrow money to install panels;

• Allowing renewable energy investments to be included in ISAs;

• Making it easier and cheaper for communities to buy and sell electricity generated locally at a fair price;

• Giving communities the right to invest in nearby large-scale renewable developments – with a mandatory community share offer of at least 20%;

• Guaranteeing grid connection for communities at an affordable cost;

• Giving local government a duty to reduce carbon emissions; and plan for, and actively support, the development of community-owned renewable energy.

ENDS

Contact: Neil Verlander, Friends of the Earth press office, 020 7566 1649;

Anna Watson, Friends of the Earth energy campaigner 07921 039 636

Notes to editors:

1. “Powering Up North – Changing our communities’ energy future” is a conference for local authorities and local communities who want to explore and encourage the potential for community energy in the North. It has been organised by a collective of organisations including Friends of the Earth, 10:10, Community Energy England, My Green Investment CIC, Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations and CLASP – the local authority and public sector sustainability support service for the NW of England. It is being held on Feb 26th at the Friends’ Meeting House in Manchester.

2. Groups attending include:

•  Halton Hydro – the biggest community hydro scheme in England.

•  Community Chase Solar – who are working to put solar panels on council housing in Cannock Chase District.

•  Sheffield Renewables  – who are working on community solar schemes in Sheffield and the Dearne Valley.

•  Esk Valley Community energy Group – who are working on energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Esk Valley.

3. The Government is proposing changes to the rules and regulations that govern the co-operative structures that deliver much of the community energy in the UK:

• The Finance Bill removes EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme tax relief) from co-operatives and replaces it with SITR (Social Investment Tax Relief), but only community benefit societies will qualify for the new relief, not co-operatives;

• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is now refusing to register any new community energy ventures that are established as bona fide co-operatives and is challenging the continued registration of established ones.

4. Clean energy sources met 27.7% of Germany’s demand in the nine months through September 2014 | Bloomberg.

5. “Citizens own half of German renewable energy” | Energy Transition

6. For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk, follow us at @wwwfoecouk or like our Facebook page.

7. Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk  Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

8. Manchester Friends of the Earth has endorsed Manchester: A Certain Future, an action plan for the city of Manchester to cut its carbon emissions by at least 41% by 2020. For more information, visit www.manchesterclimate.com

 

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