Responding to the news that there has been a dramatic downturn in the number of new community-owned renewable energy projects (1) as a result of government decisions that have adversely affected the wind and solar industries, Andrew Cooper, Green Party Energy Spokesperson, said:
“Power and renewable power in particular is being taken away from the people as a direct result of government policies. Cuts to support for renewable energy and restrictive planning conditions have been imposed on wind and solar just as tax breaks have been given to fossil fuel companies and planning conditions made easier for fracking companies.
"It looks highly likely that we will fall well short of achieving our 2020 renewable energy target just as many other countries exceed theirs. If and when the government does decide to have a u-turn on opposition to renewable energy we need to enable communities to benefit directly from wind and solar and not large multinational energy companies.”
1) Only 10 new community energy organisations have been registered so far this year, compared to 76 last year, according to new data from the trade body Co-operatives UK. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/12/just-10-new-community-energy-schemes-registered-after-tories-cut-subsidies
The number of new community-owned renewable energy projects of the sort backed by Jeremy Corbyn this week has plummeted after a series of government decisions have made many proposals for wind and solar farms no longer viable.
Only 10 new community energy organisations have been registered so far this year, compared to 76 last year, according to new data from the trade body Co-operatives UK.