Midlands MPs show their support for community energy7 March 2012
Local groups have been taking our Final Demand campaign to MPs in the West Midlands.
We want our decision makers to support a cleaner energy future by joining our call for a public enquiry into the Big Six and reform of our energy market.
High-level discussions in Shropshire
Dave Thomlinson and David Finney from the Bishop's Castle group met with Philip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow and Government Whip. They brought allies from the Affordable Warmth Champion scheme and Stretton Climate Care.
The group asked Mr Dunne for the Government to accept the rulings of the High Court and the Court of Appeal on feed in tariffs and not to appeal to the Supreme Court. They also asked for more support for community energy schemes and social housing projects, to help bring people out of fuel poverty.
Birmingham MPs back a brighter energy future
Activists Kara Moses and Joe Peacock from Birmingham Friends of the Earth met with Richard Burden, Labour MP for Northfield at the Northfield Ecocentre.
There is something wrong in the way the energy market works - we need to be finding practical ways of reforming the market and promoting renewables like solar and wind, that we need for the future.
Richard Burden, MP for Northfield
The MP, the group and Ecocentre staff discussed solutions, including incentives for smaller energy schemes. It was encouraging to see Mr Burden's support for renewables and his understanding of the need to move away from fossil fuels.
Along with local residents and solar installers, the group then met with Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood at Summerfield Eco Village a week later.
The Friends of the Earth Final Demand campaign against the proportion of power the Big Six energy companies have and the rising energy bills as a result of their power in the industry, is something that I support... the Government's cuts to solar power have been too far and too fast which is risking the growth of a new industry and letting economic opportunities slip through our fingers.
Shabana Mahmood, MP for Ladywood
The group showed her the joint statement, our invitation for organisations and local authorities to join us in urging the Government not to kill the solar industry, which she agreed to take away for further consideration.
We look forward to further support from her on these issues and hope that the evidence she's seen in Summerfield today will make her a champion for community renewable energy schemes in parliament.
Joe Peacock, Birmingham Friends of the Earth
The Birmingham group created a press release with more details of the meeting, and also videoed Mark Clemson from New World Solar talking about the support needed from MPs for the solar industry.
If you're interested in visiting your own local decision maker, we can provide you with guidance and resources. Contact your Network Developer for support.
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