South West green energy sector showcased at House of Commons

This week the House of Commons was the venue for a prestigious event to promote the South West green energy sector on a national stage.
 
Renewable energy champions Regen SW hosted the South West Sustainable Energy Reception at the Members' Dining Room at Westminster on Tuesday 8 October with support from leading lawyers Osborne Clarke and Western Power Distribution. More than 150 opinion formers, investors and innovators assembled to hear from The Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.
 
Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW, said in his introductory speech:  "The renewable energy sector has delivered remarkable growth with over a gigawatt of installed capacity in the south west and 10,000 people directly employed in sustainable energy.
 
"This should be just the start. The year we launched our SW Renewable Energy Manifesto backed by 20 MPs and four local enterprise partnerships committing to an ambitious goal of 34,000 jobs in sustainable energy in the south west."
 
In his central address to the invited south west businesses and VIPs, the Secretary of State set out the exciting progress in renewables: "Globally, investors are looking at the UK as a place to invest because we have grappled with energy issues in greater depth and are putting in place clear policies. The south west is one of the leading English regions in this market."
 
He also set out his commitment to community renewables:  "I am committed to a very active community energy strategy in order that we continue to get wider support in communities and across the country - DECC do lots of big energy stuff - but small stuff at community level is also very important."
 
Throughout the reception guests were able to meet and exchange views and ideas, among which one abiding consensus was confidence in the future but call on government to give clear signals on its commitment to sustainable energy.
 
After the meeting Merlin Hyman said: "This was a great showcase at the heart of government for the exciting renewable energy sector in the south west. We will build on the impression made today and make the case for central and local Government to support the development of this sector and the jobs it could provide."