Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bowie and Ben Bradshaw

Tuesday 4th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

13. What steps he plans to take to support the development of community energy projects.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Andrew Bowie)]

The Government are supporting local authorities and community energy groups to work together to develop projects within UK growth funding schemes, such as the UK shared prosperity fund. Ofgem also welcomes funding applications from the sector to the industry voluntary redress scheme.

[Mr Bradshaw]

Why did the Government remove amendments from the Energy Bill last week that would have supported community energy and local energy trading?

[Andrew Bowie]

As we have outlined previously, the Government do not support the amendments that were tabled in the Lords, and believe that the issues raised should be considered as part of wider market reform. However, we are proactively working with parliamentarians and the community energy sector to discuss whether further support from the Government for the sector is needed, and if so, what might be feasible.