Labour will work with councils to set up publicly-owned power stations in
an effort to challenge the Big Six energy suppliers, shadow energy
secretary Lisa Nandy has said.
Ms Nandy said there should be nothing to stop every community in the
country taking control of its own energy supply as she called for a “clean
energy boom” in cities as part of a move to “democratise” the sector.
During his Labour leadership campaign Jeremy Corbyn pledged to challenge
the “failing energy cartel” of the Big Six suppliers, potentially
nationalising them.
But shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy told the Labour Party conference in
Brighton: “Jeremy and I don’t want to nationalise energy. We want to do
something far more radical. We want to democratise it.”
Under the proposals local communities will be given the opportunity to set
up their power plant or take over existing renewable facilities.
Ms Nandy said: “There should be nothing to stop every community in this
country owning its own clean energy power station.
“Across the country schools are already taking the initiative and going
solar. Generating power and heat for their own use.
“With the right support, community-based energy companies and cooperatives
could be a new powerhouse, building us a path to a more secure energy future.
She went on: “Our city and county regions can lead the world. They can
point the way towards a safer, brighter, more secure future, to be that
light on the hill for all of us who care about the cost of our energy – to
our family budgets, our businesses and our environment.
“Let’s not wait for this Government because let’s face it, we’d be waiting
forever. Let’s seize the initiative and put power back into our own hands.”
In a policy document produced for his leadership bid, Mr Corbyn set out
plans for a German-style system of small, local energy producers which
increased the choice available for households.
It said a typical household in Germany can choose to buy its energy from
over 70 different suppliers, with a national total of around 1,100 firms
competing.
Half of German energy suppliers are owned by local authorities, communities
and small businesses, with more than 180 German towns and cities taking
over their local electricity grids, selling themselves cleaner and cheaper
power they increasingly produce for themselves.
During the leadership campaign, Mr Corbyn told Greenpeace: “I would
personally wish that the Big Six were under public ownership or public
control in some form.”
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