Solar Energy UK
Immediate release
28 September 2022
In his keynote speech to the Labour Party conference yesterday, Keir Starmer backed solar farms as a key part of boosting the rural economy and contributing to “cheaper bills and higher living standards”.
Launching the party’s ‘Green Prosperity Plan’, Starmer said it would turn the country into a “green growth superpower” by providing 100% clean power by 2030, five years ahead of the date set by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The “huge national effort” will “treble solar power”, with solar farms “growing rural communities, in the southeast, southwest and Midlands. This will require a different way of working – the biggest partnership between government, business and communities this country has ever seen,” he added.
“Clean energy is already cheaper than fossil fuels. Nine times cheaper. We just need more of it,” Starmer said.
“It will mean new jobs – more than a million new jobs, training for plumbers, electricians, engineers, software designers, technicians, builders. And it will all start within the first 100 days of a new Labour government,” he told the conference.
“The entire solar industry will be very happy with the warm support for the industry given by Kier Starmer today,” said Chris Hewett, chief of trade. “It is very welcome that the Labour leadership is so clearly aware of the huge benefits offered by cheap, clean solar power, rather than undermining one of the fastest growing industries in the country.”
[1] Kier Starmer’s speech to the 2022 Labour Party Conference
[2] Energy sector hits back as Truss dubs solar farms ‘paraphenalia’
[3] Solar Energy UK statement on solar farms and land use
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Editor’s notes:
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Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser
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