CAMPAIGN group, Power for People, have thanked South Lakeland District Council for resolving to support a new Bill that would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean energy generation.

The proposed new law, known as the Local Electricity Bill, is supported by a cross-party group of 222 MPs. If made law, it would create a new ‘Right to Local Supply’ of energy that would empower communities to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and businesses.

Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities. The Bill’s supporters say this means money people use to pay their energy bills is not helping to rebuild local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.

Campaigning group, Power for People, are calling for MPs and the government to make the Bill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, Good Energy, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB. 62 local authorities have now pledged their support.

Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said, “We thank South Lakeland District Council for supporting the Local Electricity Bill. Thank you also to Green party Councillor Judy Filmore who presented the motion to the Council, which was supported unanimously. If made law, the Bill would unleash the huge potential for new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs, services, and facilities in communities across the country.”

Councillor Judy Filmore, who presented the motion, said: "I am excited by the potential opportunities that could be unleashed if this Bill becomes law. There is potential for huge growth in existing community energy groups and substantial creation of new local clean energy providers throughout South Lakeland.

"I look forward to the day when I can buy my electricity directly from a clean energy provider literally on my doorstep."

Leader of South Lakeland District Council, Councillor Giles Archibald, said: “The Local Electricity Bill will empower and enable new community energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to local people and would help us to achieve our ambitious targets for carbon reduction.

"The revenues received by these new local renewable energy providers would be used to help improve the local economy and local services and facilities.”