MPs sign Solarcentury solar tile in support of feed-in tariffs
Left to right: Leonie Greene, from the Renewable Energy Association, Dick Strawbridge and Alan Simpson MP with a model of the REA's renewable energy town.
Dozens of MPs and members of the House of Lords attended yesterday’s packed feed-in tariff lobby event in Parliament organised by Friends of the Earth and the Renewable Energy Association. Other organisations present at the lobby included the World Future Council, represented by Chair Bianca Jagger, the Energy Saving Trust and the Home Builders Federation.
At the event, more than 30 MPs queued up to sign a Solarcentury solar PV tile, manufactured in the Midlands and Wales, to pledge their support for the renewable energy tariff amendment to the Energy Bill. The amendment will be debated in the House of Lords on 22nd October, before the measure returns to the Commons in November.
Solarcentury PR Manager Charlotte Webster holds a C21e tile covered in MPs' signatures
Dick Strawbridge, well known TV presenter and campaigner urged MPs to introduce feed-in tariffs in the UK as quickly as possible. He said: "Most people do not feel able to control their future, however if they become energy producers they future-proof themselves. As such, the amendment is needed now because a change in our attitudes to renewable energy does not happen overnight. We need people to realise that it makes sense and spending a little now could save them a lot over the lifetime of the system." The campaign also received a statement of support from TV presenter Griff Rhys Jones.
Seb Berry, Head of Public Affairs said “Parliamentarians of all parties and of no party recognise that feed-in tariffs are the vital missing ingredient in UK renewable energy policy. We welcome the Government’s recent consultation on a feed-in tariff for small-scale renewable electricity. The Government now has a great opportunity to act decisively and positively on this issue in the forthcoming Energy bill debates. We hope that they take that opportunity.”
Steve Webb MP, Lib Dem Spokesman on the Environment, energy, Food and Rural Affairs |
Left to right: Greg Barker MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Greg Clark MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Charles Hendry MP, Shadow Minister for Energy. |