Campaign group Power for People has thanked MP Rosie Cooper for supporting a new Bill in Parliament that would help rebuild local economies whilstincreasing clean energy generation.

The proposed new law, the Local Electricity Bill, is supported by a cross-partygroup of 224 MPs.

If made law, it would create a new ‘Right to Local Supply’ of energy thatwould empower communities to sell locally generated electricity directly to local householdsand businesses.

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

Power for People is now calling for MPs and the government to make theBill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community EnergyEngland, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, Good Energy, WWF,Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB.

Some 64 local authorities have also pledged theirsupport, and Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said: “We thank Rosie for supporting theLocal Electricity Bill.

"If made law, it would unleash the huge potential for newcommunity-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs,services, and facilities in communities across the country.”

Added Rosie: “The Local Electricity Bill will empower andenable new community energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to localpeople which will help strengthen local economies.

"This is urgently needed given theeconomic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The Bill will also help accelerate our transition toclean energy, which is critical in avoiding the potential economic and ecological devastationof climate change.

"I will do all I can to ensure it becomes law.”