TODAY campaign group, Power for People, thanked Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, Neale Hanvey, for supporting a new Bill in Westminster that would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean energy generation.

The proposed new law, known as the Local Electricity Bill, is supported by 187 MPs from all parties. If made law, it would create a new ‘Right to Local Supply’ of energy that would empower communities to sell locally-generated electricity directly to local households and businesses.

Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities. The Bill’s supporters say this means money people use to pay their energy bills is not helping to rebuild local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.

Campaigning group, Power for People, are calling for MPs and the UK Government to make the Bill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB. Forty-four local authorities have also pledged their support.

Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said: “We thank Neale Hanvey for supporting the Local Electricity Bill. If made law, the Bill would unleash the huge potential for new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs, services, and facilities in communities across the country.”

Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, Neale Hanvey said: "The Bill would empower folk in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency, giving them the ability to set up new community energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to local people.

“This is good news for the environment and good news for the local economy.

“It’s frustrating that we’ve got to struggle to get this through Westminster when we’ve got a far more environmentally-conscious Government in Edinburgh. But unfortunately, despite parts of energy being devolved, the UK Government still has reserved powers over regulation of the gas and electricity grids.

“So, I’ll work across parties to support this Bill, while also making the argument that to fully address the environmental challenge, we need all powers over energy devolved to the Scottish Parliament.”