Liberal Democrats are delighted to see the Local Electricity Bill continue to gain momentum in Parliament, as the issue once more comes up for discussion (30 November).
Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors put forward a motion to Council (July 2020) favouring the Local Electricity Bill, which received cross-party support and was agreed. Now the bill will feature as part of the ‘Empowering Community Energy Schemes’ Adjournment debate in Parliament on Tuesday 30th November at 2.30pm.
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE also used the opportunity of the recent COP26 climate change conference to write to newly appointed Energy Minister Greg Hands MP asking for the government’s support for the measure.
“It is great to see Parliament once more debating this bill”, said councillor Sykes. “The Local Electricity Bill will revolutionise the way that we produce and consume electricity. It will enable local communities to generate electricity using renewable technologies and then supply it directly to local people, without all the bureaucracy and expense that small suppliers currently face when entering the energy market.”
Support for the bill is also building amongst all parties in Parliament.
“281 MPs from all parties, including Liberal Democrats, back it as well as nearly 100 Local Authorities, which as a result of our initiative of course includes Oldham,” added councillor Sykes. “114 Conservative MPs also back the legislation, and it is my hope that this will eventually filter through into a positive reply from Energy Minister Greg Hands as government support would make the law more certain.”