The climate crisis is our greatest long-term challenge, and urgent action is required in order to limit global warming and the impact it will have on our planet and future generations. I therefore welcome the steps that this Government has taken towards achieving its climate goals since it entered office.
Making Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering clean power by 2030, and accelerating the transition to net zero across the economy are amongst this Government’s key missions. This is why one of the first actions it took following the General Election last summer was to start setting up the first publicly owned energy generation company in 75 years, Great British Energy. This company is owned by the British people and will drive clean energy deployment to create jobs, boost energy independence, and ensure British taxpayers, bill-payers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy.
Last month, the landmark Great British Energy Act received Royal Assent and the first major project of the energy company has been to announce that it will be rolling out solar panels on over 400 schools and NHS sites across England, with funding also provided to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as England’s metro mayors, to kickstart community energy projects right across the UK.
In England, around £80 million is being invested to support around 200 schools, alongside £100 million for nearly 200 NHS sites, covering a third of NHS trusts. Estimates suggest that the installation of Great British Energy’s solar panels could save a typical school up to £25,000 per year, whilst the average NHS site could save up to £45,000 per year on their annual energy bill. These savings mean that more money can be spent on the essentials that our schools and frontline services need.
I am glad that progress is being made on a national level, however, it is also important to highlight that important contributions can also be made locally. The Government has announced that £12m will be put aside for local authorities and community energy groups to build local clean energy projects – including onshore wind turbines, rooftop solar panels and hydropower.
We already have examples of similar schemes in our own town. Reading Borough Council has been helping more residents make the switch to solar power by allowing them to take advantage of competitive group-buying rates on solar panels and battery storage, and ‘Reading Hydro’ has been generating renewable, low-carbon electricity from the power of the River Thames since 2021.
I am proud of the actions that are being taken in our town to tackle the climate crisis, improve sustainability, and to make Reading a cleaner, greener place to live. The combined efforts of the council and its local partners has resulted in Reading being awarded an ‘A’ grade for its climate action by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for four years in a row. Our town is one of only 112 towns and cities worldwide, and one of only 19 other UK towns and cities, to have achieved this accolade for 2024.
I must also congratulate the efforts of Reading University, which have seen it recently been named the Sustainable University of the Year for 2025 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Residents who are interested in environmental matters can attend events and activities aimed to inspire a climate-friendly Reading as part of Reading Climate Festival 2025 from 7 -21 June. The programme can be found on the following link: https://readingcan.org.uk/festival25/
I will continue to support action that delivers not only for the climate but also for our economy, jobs, energy security and living standards.
Matt Rodda is Labour MP for Reading Central
