Clean British Energy

A recent survey revealed that 70% of people want David Cameron to secure UK energy supplies by developing clean British power from renewable resources. Renewables provide a diverse, secure and inexhaustible source of energy. Compared with fossil fuels and nuclear power, renewable energy that harnesses the sun, the wind and other natural energy flows emits very few pollutants per unit of energy generated. Along with a programme of improved energy efficiency, renewable energy can displace fossil fuels and help us to respond to peak oil and climate change.

But despite the popularity and the clear benefits of Clean British Energy, at the moment we're being kept hooked on fossil fuels by the Big Six energy companies. We need to radically change the way we produce our energy. The price of gas has risen dramatically and a quarter of the UK's power stations are going to be switched off in the next two decades - we have a choice between investing in Clean British Energy from wind, save, tides and sunshine or in more of the same polluting, imported, expensive coal and gas. Independent Government advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, also say that we need to entirely decarbonise our electricity system by 2030 to give us a fighting chance of tackling climate change.

Energy Bill

The Energy Bill received its 'Second Reading' before Christmas and is now being discussed by a committee of MPs. It will then come back to the Commons for 'Report Stage'. Friends of the Earth's reaction to the current Bill is explained in this briefing which outlines two main issues. As well as a carbon target, we want the government to use carbon taxes (around £4bn annually) to invest in energy efficiency - which could take 90% of households out of fuel poverty over the next 15 years. Tim Yeo (Conservative Chair of the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee) and Barry Gardiner have now put down an amendment to include a carbon target in line with a recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change (for electricity generation, 50g CO2 per kWh by 2030 compared to nearly 500g now). This was reported in the Guardian. We are urging MPs to support this amendment.

We hosted a public meeting about the Energy Bill on 16th March 2013 at the Green Light festival. You can read more in our News section.

Energy suppliers

You can also show you're serious about Clean British Energy by switching your own electricity to a green energy supplier. Transition Leicester have set up a scheme with four ethical energy suppliers whereby you can earn a referral payment for local environmental projects when you switch, see their website for further information.

Supporting local renewable energy

Leicester Friends of the Earth co-operate closely with the Pro Wind Alliance (ProWA), which is an association of local individuals and groups who are convinced that renewables are vital for the future and who are therefore in favour of developing properly designed local renewable generating capability. ProWA aims to provide objective information, backed by sound research and references. For further details please refer to the ProWA website.