Commenting on a report by the Energy and Climate Change Committee today (Tuesday 6 August) calling on the Government to financially support communities to install renewable energy systems, Friends of the Earth Campaigner Donna Hume said:

“MPs have hit the nail on the head. The Government should be doing much more to help small businesses, councils and schools save on fuel bills by generating their own clean power from renewable sources of energy.

“Supporting medium-sized clean energy schemes would reduce our reliance on the Big Six energy firms who have kept the UK hooked on gas imports for decades – the very climate-changing fuel that’s driving up our bills.

“Ministers should use the current Energy Bill and forthcoming community energy strategy to give more people a stake in the UK’s huge clean energy resource – from solar arrays to district heating schemes.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. For  a copy of the report contact Nick at [email protected] or call 020 7219 3297.
2. Friends of the Earth supports the recommendation by MPs that the Government develops a package of measures to help overcome the barriers to community power generation, such as planning; grid access; and low-interest loans. The environment charity urges Ministers to act quickly so that all communities have the opportunity to be part of a local clean energy scheme as soon as possible.