Tim Farron meets Minister over support for community energy projects

Making it easier for local businesses to supply energy to their community was on the agenda when Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron recently met with the Minister for Energy.

This would allow households and schools to buy power from local, renewable sources - supporting local businesses in the process.

Tim was joined by representatives from the British Hydropower Association and also Kendal-based hydropower engineering business Gilkes.

Tim then followed it up with a question on the floor of the House of Commons.

During Energy Questions Tim said: “There are two things that the Government could do to improve energy resilience, particularly in communities like mine in Cumbria.

“First, they could support Electricity North West by ensuring that it buries its cables where possible to protect them against wild weather, which, as the Minister knows, we have from time to time. 

“Secondly, they could accelerate local energy markets so that in places like Coniston, which the Minister and I discussed in our meeting yesterday, they are able to provide energy for the community they are embedded within, thereby enhancing the resilience of the network. Will the Minister do those things?”

Minister Michael Shanks replied: “I think Electricity North West is considering exactly that question, looking at where the lines can be buried to avoid repetition of the issues that have been caused so far. I will follow up on that point in particular with it. 

“I had a fantastic meeting with the honourable gentleman yesterday to talk about Coniston and local energy markets. 

“I encourage him and Members across the House to read the local power plan, published this morning, which sets out our ambition to look at innovative ways in which communities can own and invest in their own energy while also having the resilience of local energy networks and smart energy systems that help the grid both nationally and locally.”