Member

Amendment 185S complements this by recognising that good intentions at the planning stage are insufficient without practical guidance and support. The Secretary of State would be required to publish community energy guidance within 18 months and to keep it updated every three years. Even when planning consent exists for renewables in a development, barriers remain when local people try to supply energy directly to each other. At present, community initiatives struggle with disproportionate licensing rules, arcane market requirements and costs that may be trivial for multinational suppliers but are crippling to parish and neighbourhood groups. This amendment would oblige the Government to provide clear measures, enable local supply licences or exemptions, clarify transparent and affordable terms for customers and make sure that processes are not burdensome for the very groups we rely on to lead community projects.