As part of its over-arching inquiry into technological innovations and climate change, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee launched a call for evidence on Community Energy.
SE24 was one of over 50 organisations which submitted written evidence to the Committee and we were one of five asked to give oral evidence to the EAC on 14 April 2021. Paul Hallas, Director of SE24 presented on behalf of SE24.
Witnesses highlighted the unique contribution of Community Energy in:
- engaging local communities and encouraging the behavioural changes needed to achieve Net Zero;
- delivering low carbon energy projects which benefit both community and climate; and
- routing any financial surplus back into the community, helping to build awareness and support those in fuel poverty.
We called for a Government policy re-set in the year of COP 26 – including an extension of Community Energy Funding, a reliable ‘route to market’ for community renewable electricity, improved support for local low carbon heating projects and a Community Energy tranche within national decarbonisation funding schemes.
The written and oral evidence submitted to the Committee can all be found here:
The hearing can also be viewed on Parliament TV: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/51133e06-717e-400a-b27f-f8e3299cb2fa