An Energy Bill Revolution

As councillors, we are often sent sample motions to put through the council process - this one looks like one that I could not only support, but promote....let's see what the Labour Group thinks

From: Chiara Vitali [mailto:chiara@energybillrevolution.org]
Sent: 20 August 2013 17:09
To: CLLR BULL, Paul
Subject: Energy Bill Revolution - Calling for an end to cold homes - Please support the campaign

Dear Cllr Bull,

Last winter once again saw millions of families struggling to heat their homes. Rises in fuel bills have made it even harder for vulnerable people to keep warm, leaving entire families confined to one room or wrapping up in winter clothing indoors. Cold homes damage people’s health and lead to needless deaths, particularly among the elderly and children.

However, new research has shown that improving our homes to make them easier to heat is the best solution, and can protect people from living in a cold home even when the price of energy is high (http://www.ukace.org/2013/03/fact-file-the-cold-man-of-europe/).

The Energy Bill Revolution is an alliance of 140 organisations that is calling on the Government to make our homes cheaper to heat and more comfortable to live in – with a real focus on those who struggle hardest to heat their homes. In these cash-strapped times, however, we are not asking for public funds to be taken from other key services –from this year the Government will have a new source of money to pay for this as new policies increase the proportion of our fuel bills that is paid to the Treasury.

Please add your voice to the campaign by signing the petition at www.energybillrevolution.org.  The Government needs to hear from all of us that this is a spiralling problem that must be tackled now.  

We also need councils up and down the country to pass motions in support of the campaign: please therefore do all you can to urge yours to do so (a model resolution is included below).

Working together we can have warm homes and affordable bills for all.

Yours sincerely,

Chiara Vitali
Parliamentary Campaigner
Energy Bill Revolution

Twitter: @energybillrev

Website: www.energybillrevolution.org

Suggested Council motion – Energy Bill Revolution - Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency

The Council notes:

1. Already 1 in 4 households in the UK are in fuel poverty, meaning they need to spend more than 10% of their income on keeping their homes warm. The problem is likely to get worse, with 1 in 3 households projected to be in fuel poverty by 2016.

2. The main reasons for this crisis are that gas, oil and coal prices are high, and the UK’s homes are some of the most energy inefficient in Europe – leaking heat from their doors, walls and windows.

3. Cold homes are damaging the health of vulnerable members of society, including children, older people and people with disabilities. Diseases such as asthma are made worse, and people are more likely to have strokes and heart attacks. Illnesses caused by cold homes cost the NHS nearly one billion pounds each year.

4. Over the next 15 years the Government will raise an average of £4 billion every year in carbon taxes through the European Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Floor Price. Recycling this revenue back into households could bring 9 out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty, lower people’s bills, cut carbon emissions and create jobs.

The Council therefore resolves to:

1.  Support the Energy Bill Revolution campaign calling for the Government to recycle revenues from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of UK homes.

2. Notify local Members of Parliament of its support for the campaign and urge them to support the campaign by emailingMPsupporters@energybillrevolution.org.


The Energy Bill revolution is supported by over 140 organisations, including...

My thoughts on fracking

Many residents have been using this template letter from Greenpeace to contact me about their concerns about the serious issue of fracking

I'm very concerned about the prospect of fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - in our area.

Fracking has been practiced in the US for some time and has been linked to contamination of water supplies and
atmospheric pollution, as well as increased traffic to construction sites. The government has promised lower energy bills  if gas and oil from fracking is produced, but even the fracking companies admit this is unlikely to happen. The 

government should, instead, be concentrating on sustainable energy sources rather than this appalling method of 

extracting short-term energy supplies.

I would like to know if any companies are planning to carry out fracking in Devon and whether any relevant licences havebeen sold. If so, I would be grateful if you could let me know your position on the matter and what steps I can take to
register my objections.

If there are no current plans or licences, I would be grateful if you could keep me informed of any future
developments.

Sincerely,

Here is my response to this e-mail:

Thank you for your email as part of Greenpeace's campaign Say No To Fracking to defend neighbourhoods from
fracking.

Like you I have serious concerns about the practice as it is linked to contaminations of water supplies, increased air pollution and even small earthquakes .
A recent report in New Scientist (7 August 2013) suggests that fracking for shale gas and oil, rather than stemming 

"global warming, could actually accelerate climate change by releasing methane - a more potent 'greenhouse gas" than carbon dioxide -  into the atmosphere

I am concerned about fracking and am aware of the key messages published by UK Extreme Energy in July 2013

They also publish a very useful set of briefing notes which you might you might find useful

I have been in contact with officers at Exeter City Council and they have confirmed that there have not been any 

applications for licences for any form of shale gas or oil exploration within the boundaries of Exeter.

Also, to the best of my knowledge there have not been any applications within the county. The geology of Devon makes itunlikely that there is any prospect of there being any oil or gas reserves.

I have asked the officers to keep me informed of any change to this situation, and you could join me in subscribing the to Frack Off e-newsletter for updates. 

Friends of the Earth are also running a campaign against fracking - more from their campaign hub.

Thank you for your interest in this subjecy and I will endeavour to keep you informed if the situation changes

Regards

Paul