Under a new proposed Local Energy Bill, British neighbourhoods could club together to become their own energy suppliers, breaking free from the big utility companies and creating green, cheap energy.
The small community of Osney Lock, just west of Oxford on the River Thames have harnessed the force of the river by creating their own hydroelectric renewable energy that powers 55 houses. The people of Osney Lock are just one of the communities which hope to be the first to go truly "off grid" under plans to allow local people to buy renewable energy which is generated nearby.
At the moment, when a community buys a group of solar panels, or starts a hydroelectric project, they are forced to sell the energy back to the grid. Under a new proposed Local Energy Bill, neighbourhoods could club together to become their own energy suppliers, breaking free from the big utility companies and creating green, cheap energy.
Ministers heartily support the plans, with one telling The Sunday Telegraph: "The government should send the signal, create incentives and remove red tape - this then lets 1,000 flowers bloom."
It is understood Alok Sharma, the President of the global climate conference COP26, due to be held in Glasgow later this year, is supportive of the plans as an incentive to quickly reduce Britain's carbon footprint using community spirit.
