‘Do more for green energy’ (From Oxford Mail)

‘Do more for green energy’

7:00pm Tuesday 20th March 2012 in News

TYCOON Sir Richard Branson and two Oxfordshire green energy campaigners are among a high-powered delegation to have signed a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to clarify his position on renewable energy.

Sir Richard, who has a home in Kidlington, has joined Barbara Hammond, director of the Oxfordshire Low Carbon Hub, and wind and solar energy pioneer Adam Twine, from Watchfield, in appealing to David Cameron to free up planning rules to make it easier for green energy to be generated in local communities.

The letter points to the success of Germany where it claims community and large scale energy farms have cut electricity bills by a total of 25 per cent.

It adds: “A planning system that does recognise the value of a move to local energy is badly overdue.”

Ms Hammond, who is in charge of the Osney-based hub set up with a £128,000 Government grant last year, wants to establish a ‘people’s power station’ to help local communities reduce their carbon footprint.

She said: “It is very hard for communities to develop projects and gain benefit from them.”

Ms Hammond added that just eight per cent of UK electricity is generated from renewable sources and only one per cent of that eight per cent is community-owned.