Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors Dave Murphy and Chris Gloster are supporting the Local Electricity Bill. This is supported by over one hundred and fifty Members of Parliament.
Local authorities can play a central role in creating sustainable communities. The Local Electricity Bill would allow Councils and local community groups to work together to generate electricity from renewable sources to supply local homes, schools and businesses. Money received by Councils from the sale of local renewable electricity can be used to help fund measures to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and to help fund local services and facilities.
Councillor Murphy said: “We are calling for the Council and our local Members of Parliament to ask the UK Government to enact this legislation. If they did so, it would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply. This Bill is widely popular and has already received cross-party support from 151 Members of Parliament.”
“People are very concerned about the planet and the environment. With this motion we will help build local communities that are sustainable”, commented Councillor C. Gloster.
The Council meeting will be held on 15th July and starts at 6pm.
Copy of Motion:
Council July 15, 2020 – Notice of Opposition Business
Motion 3 – The Local Electricity Bill
This Council notes:
- Making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to supply locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people and businesses.
- Revenues received by councils from the sale of local renewable electricity can be used to help fund measures to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and to help fund local services and facilities.
- The recent reintroduction of the Local Electricity Bill under the Ten-Minute Rule. If enacted the new law would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply.
- This Bill has received the support of 151 Members of Parliament.
- We should make every attempt to build a sustainable Britain after the Coronavirus crisis has passed. Our support for the Bill and this motion helps us achieve that.
Council resolves to:
- Write to the relevant Government Minister asking them to enact this legislation as soon as possible.
- Ask our local Members of Parliament to support the Bill.
- Write to the campaign promoting the Bill, Power for People, (at 8, Delancey Passage, Camden, London, NW1 7NN) expressing the Council’s support for the campaign and the Local Electricity Bill.
Proposed by: Councillor Dave Murphy, Seconded by: Councillor Chris Gloster