Climate and Environment
Great British Energy Bill
This week I have been sitting as a member of the Bill Committee for the creation of Great British Energy
11 Oct 2024
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
West Berkshire and Newbury
Reflecting on My First 100 Days as MP for Newbury
Lee Dillon MP reflects on his first 100 days in office, from tackling local issues like sewage, healthcare, and the cost-of-living crisis, to advocating for Newbury in Parliament. Read about his accomplishments and plans for the future.
11 Oct 2024
Fury as Government u-turns on Stepping Hill Repairs
Tom Morrison, MP for Cheadle has called on the Government to urgently rethink their refusal to fund the essential repair works at Stepping Hill Hospital, which is now facing a maintenance backlog of £134million and 70% of its buildings being in the worst
11 Oct 2024
Alex pushes FM on ADHD Wait Times
Stephen is a teenager waiting for a diagnosis for ADHD and other complex conditions. His initial consultation was 5 years ago but he’s still waiting for treatment. The number of ADHD referrals has skyrocketed, but resources have not kept pace with demand.
11 Oct 2024
Cole-Hamilton files parliamentary motion on antisocial behaviour
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has filed a parliamentary motion on antisocial behaviour.
11 Oct 2024
Climate and Environment
Getting Back on Track to Meet our Climate Targets
On Monday I made my first speech in the chamber as Lib Dem spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero in response to the Government’s £22bn pledge for carbon capture projects
11 Oct 2024
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”
