Candidates urged to back SW investment opportunity

Regen SW has today written to MPs and Parliamentary candidates in the south west urging them to support the development of a world-leading renewable energy industry in the next Parliament by signing the South West Renewable Energy 2015 General Election Manifesto.

Candidates have been asked to pledge their support for the manifesto's eight specific commitments, which could help deliver to the south west more than £10 billion of investment, 34,000 jobs and energy security to thousands of local communities.

The commitments include:

• Putting local communities at the heart of all new renewable energy development so investment brings local benefits
• Backing renewable energy and energy efficiency as a key priority sector for Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authority economic development strategies and City Deals.
• Leading the world in developing innovative wave and tidal technology
• Rolling out energy efficiency and smart technology, delivering savings and new revenue sources to all south west businesses, homes and landowners

Launching the manifesto, Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen South West, said: "The South West Renewable Energy Manifesto sets out a commitment to make the most of the tremendous potential to attract £10 billion of investment and create thousands of new jobs in renewable energy in the south west. What we are aiming to do over the next few weeks is to build support from across the political spectrum to help us deliver this opportunity over the course of the next Parliament."

Regen SW is also organising a political debate on renewables policy with leading party representatives on 21 April at Renewable Energy Marketplace, the largest energy event in the south west which takes place at Westpoint, Exeter.

A copy of the Manifesto is available at http://goo.gl/7FWHU9