Environmental campaign group Power for People has praised Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East, for his support of the community energy sector.
Community energy involves people building, owning, and running local renewable energy generation schemes.
This offers numerous environmental and social benefits, such as reduced emissions and local job creation.
But Power for People says the growth of the community energy sector is currently hindered by unfair regulations and disproportionate costs.
Mr Blackman was among more than 80 MPs who supported an amendment to include community energy in the Government’s Great British Energy Bill.
The bill, which passed through the House of Commons at the end of 2024, will establish the Great British Energy company, a key part of Labour’s future plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
Despite the Government’s repeated emphasis on the importance of community energy, it is not mentioned in the flagship bill.
Efforts to amend the bill to include community energy, thereby making it a priority for the new Great British Energy company, are ongoing in the House of Lords.
Pressure is mounting, with Conservative Party Shadow Ministers joining the cross-party effort, most recently at a debate on December 17.
There will be another on January 13.
Voices from all parties in both Houses of Parliament, including Mr Blackman’s, are striving to set the Great British Energy Company on a path to realising the full potential of community energy.
Mr Blackman said: “The Government must acknowledge the substantial public and political support for community energy and include it in the Great British Energy Bill.”
Steve Shaw, director of Power for People, said: “Our thanks go to Mr Blackman for supporting this amendment to the Great British Energy Bill.
“We warmly welcome his engagement with and ambition for the community energy sector.”
Power for People is a non-profit organisation, aiming to see the UK rapidly transition to 100 per cent clean energy and for this to benefit local communities.
