Lib Dems are ‘only sensible’ choice
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PD
4 Jan 2018
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Farron – Old Hutton decision is big win for local people
Commenting on the news that local councillors have rejected plans for a gas power station near Old Hutton, local MP Tim Farron said:
4 Jan 2018
Alison Eden pitches in
Our wonderful candidate at General Election 2017, Alison Eden, spends much of her spare time helping to improve her local area. She cleans beaches, scrubs graffitti, and recently helped to tidy and cut back a dangerously overgrown underpass and staircase that had become hazardous to less able residents.
ER
4 Jan 2018
Hospital bosses warn of long waits at Lincolnshire A&E departments
Lincoln County Hospital. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter NHS bosses in Lincolnshire are warning people to expect long waits at A&E departments across the county.
SP
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Cllr Steve Gazzard is a super-activist!
We often have reason to be proud of our Lib Dem councillors, and there can be few better reasons than for being in the national press because you've managed to sign up over 5000 organ donors in one town! Our very own Steve Gaz is to be found in Exmouth centre most weekends and in most weathers, chatting to potential donors, passers-by and even sometimes organ recipients about planning what to do with your unneeded offal after your demise.
ER
4 Jan 2018
Have your say on public services in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is running a survey asking for your views on public services in the West Midlands and on the WMCA itself. You can find the survey at http://socsi.in/u5AJH
4 Jan 2018
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!”
