Bristol's first steps to bring cheap clean energy
Written by Pete Goodwin Tuesday, 17 January 2012
On Tuesday, a motion from the Green Party councillors won crucial support from the LibDem group to consider building a mass 'consumer co-operative', using its buying power to secure cheaper renewable energy tariffs for the city's domestic consumers and for the council itself.
Next, staff will look into the practicalities of launching a scheme on the lines of Holland's “Met de Strom Mee” (Go with the Current), an innovative bulk buying scheme that expands the market for renewable energy.
The vote was passed by just 2 votes in the face of opposition from the Tory group and from all but one of the Labour group, who all wanted to include nuclear energy in the otherwise 'green' mix.
Southville's councillor Tess Green said:
“It was a very close vote, but one that could soon bring many benefits all round. Bristol has the skills and resources to gain economically from a stimulated renewables industry, and of course fuel poverty is affecting all too many households.”
Her Green Party colleague Gus Hoyt added:
“This is the vital first step forward in a process that promises to benefit citizens of Bristol and beyond. It's good for industry, good for consumers, good for jobs, and good for the environment. We're very pleased that this Green motion, the first we've presented to full council, is being taken up.”
ENDS
Notes:
- Cllr Jennie Smith abstained rather than vote with her Labour colleagues because of their implicit support for nuclear power.
- The motion passed after an amendment from the LibDem group. The reads (without the background preamble):
Action
This council requests that a report is prepared by relevant officers to consider the above and to consider how to:
· Work with the existing LGA project on bulk energy purchasing to negotiate together a good rate for the council and Bristol residents
· Implement a scheme with this network to allow all UK citizens to buy cheap clean energy (where clean energy is defined as energy derived from non-fossil fuel, non-tropical biofuel, non-incineration and non-nuclear sources)
Council requests this report to be presented to the June Cabinet meeting and that the report specifically considers the possibility of implementing the scheme by December 2012
Contact
Cllr Tess Green,
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Cllr Gus Hoyt,
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