A visit from Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Select Committee

On 16th April it was great to host Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Select Committee, to the Bath & West Community Energy office alongside Kevin Guy, leader of B&NES council, Nikki Brain, Energy Transformation lead at B&NES and Harry Lopes, CEO of Eden Renewables, to discuss all things Community Energy.

The conversation highlighted the value of partnerships and the important role that joint ventures can play in helping to scale community renewables. Hot on the heels of Peter Capener‘s appearance at the Energy Select Committee two weeks previously, it demonstrated how community energy organisations across the country thrive on knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Alongside his visit to BWCE, Bill Esterson also met with Bristol Energy Coop, Plymouth Energy Community, Regen, and other players in the renewable sector in the South West.

“I hope that the government’s plan to support the delivery of 8 MW of power though community energy is realised – the learnings from my visits will be used to make recommendations on how to improve the prospects of success…. My biggest takeaway from 3 days meeting the passionate advocates for community and local development of energy and critical resources more widely is that it’s the influence of local people on their friends, neighbours and communities that can be the key to making the case for the energy transition. In the face of those determined to derail the move away from fossil fuels, the most credible voices are unlikely to be politicians or corporate executives. People at the heart of their communities, leading by example and building trust over the years, are bound to have influence. So while it will increase our national security and economic security to move to low carbon energy generation, the importance of community advocates is only going to grow.

My committee will be taking more evidence and making recommendations on this subject and related topics including how to cut bills in the coming months.”

Bill Esterson MP

This is a very encouraging recognition of the power of Community Energy! 

Pictured left to right: Alexandra Jones – BWCE Head of Operations, Peter Capener – BWCE Managing Director, Sara Grimes – BWCE Head of Business Development, Bill Esterson MP – Chair of the Energy Select Committee, Kevin Guy – Leader of B&NES Council, Nikki Brain – Energy Transformation Lead at B&NES, Alex Lockton – Head of Renewables Development BWCE, Harry Lopes – CEO of Eden Renewables.