SW Community Energy Day of Action
Over 30 community energy groups across the South West will come together next week in a coordinated Day of Action to urge the region's MPs to take urgent action to protect the future of community renewable energy projects.
Community energy groups will be meeting their MPs on the 16 October to warn that Government proposals to cut renewable energy subsidies by 87 per cent will lead to the loss of jobs and investment in their local area. Groups will ask their MP to write to the secretary of state calling on her to take immediate action to ensure the enormous benefits of locally-owned renewable energy are not lost.
Frome MP David Warburton has already criticised the government’s plans saying “a drop of up to 87 per cent in subsidies overnight is draconian and more than I suspect the industry can bear”.
The SW Community Energy Day of Action is being coordinated by Regen SW which is encouraging community renewable energy groups that have not already done so to contact their local MP as soon as possible. Regen SW is also helping community groups prepare for their meeting and providing them with all the tools they need to lobby their MP. The Day of Action is also backed by Community Energy England.
With only a few days left before the SW Community Energy Day of Action Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen SW, said: "The response we have had to the SW Community Energy Day of Action has been fantastic with over 30 groups meeting their MPs. Renewable energy is a south west success story generating 15 per cent of our electricity and 13,000 jobs. The government proposed reforms will stop this progress in its tracks and cost thousands of jobs.”
"We urge all those reading this who are concerned about what the government is proposing to use the next seven days to contact their MP to organise a meeting, or to urge them to write to the secretary of state. Anyone interested in taking part in the Day of Action can contact Regen SW at ofrankland@regensw.co.uk and we will send them everything they need."
