Press release: Solihull MP targetted in clean energy campaign

A tongue-in-cheek billboard poster featuring Solihull MP Lorely Burt and Chancellor George Osborne has appeared today (Monday 8 April) near Solihull train station, urging Ms Burt to back a UK clean power target.

The bright yellow 6 x 3 m poster, on Blossomfield Road railway bridge to the east of the station, shows a picture of the Chancellor smiling beside a speech bubble that says "I love you Lorely Burt xxx", and the caption "At least someone will be happy if your MP doesn't sign up to the clean power target."

With its billboard campaign Solihull Friends of the Earth is calling on Ms Burt to support a target to take carbon out of UK electricity by 2030. The target would drive forward investment in renewable energy, helping to tackle climate change and bring eco-tech jobs to the West Midlands.

The Energy Bill - soon to become law - will commit the Government to shift to clean power. But currently lacks a deadline for when this must be done by, which has cast uncertainty over the energy market. Last month, leading manufactures including Alstom and Vestas wrote to Osborne to warn him that his opposition to setting a target now risked delaying investment and losing jobs abroad.

MPs Tim Yeo and Barry Gardiner have tabled an amendment to rectify this. Their proposal would ensure a target date is set by April 2014 and in line with recommendations given by the Government's official climate advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, which has a duty to advise on the most cost-effective way for the UK to meet our overall climate change goals.

Solihull Friends of the Earth's Carol Linfield said: "Setting a clean power target now will help to tackle climate change and bring new jobs to Solihull, but it really needs Lorely Burt's backing. That's why Solihull Friends of the Earth is asking Ms Burt to stand up to George Osborne, and back the green jobs amendment to the Energy Bill."

A clean power target would:

• Clean up our power system and free us from our dependence on costly imported gas, which has been driving up energy bills
• Create tens of thousands of new jobs for British workers and make us world leaders in renewable energy technology
• Stop the Big Six energy companies building a new generation of dirty gas power stations that will do nothing to help cut emissions