Last year, as I couldn't go to Autumn Conference, I responded to a request to represent GLD at the Nottingham Green Fest, held on September 15th and took part in a discussion that included Natalie Bennett (former Green Party Leader), Alan Simpson (former Labour MP), along with a Labour Councillor and a Labour PPC (very balanced panel!) to talk about "What actions are required to avoid runaway climate & ecological breakdown?"
Green Gathering Chepstow
Why is a Hydrogen Grid needed for the UK? The graph below shows that domestic heating gas demand peak in Winter is 2.5x the electricity grid energy load (industry & power adds another 1x with more equal balance through year) and transport is 2x (N.B. 0.5x is aviation).
The Government's plans to plant millions of trees between Liverpool and Hull and into the north of England to help combat climate change by absorbing thousands of tons of CO2 at a cost of £500m is to be applauded, but not when those trees might need to be planted on farm land to reach the target!
It's everywhere these days - and rightly so: warnings, petitions, rallies, campaigns.
While counter terrorism police waste their time investigating known Extinction Rebellion supporters and school strikers reported by their teachers, the real terrorists travel into the heart of London, mingling unnoticed with ordinary commuters on buses trains and tubes. They wear no badges and carry no placards. They do not have suicide belts spoiling the shape of their smart jackets. These hidden terrorists spend their days working for the breakdown of society, by investing people's savings into the fossil fuel industry. The "terror" of the risk of one's bus being diverted because of a crowd of school strikers demonstrating for action to slow climate change, or a few extremists padlocking themselves together or gluing themselves to things; is a minor and short lived "terror". The terror of advancing climate disruption bringing drought, fire, flood and crop failure, with the resultant starvation, mass-migration, and wars over water and food; is a real, intense and ever-pervasive terror.
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!”
