Chester Euro MP Arlene McCarthy has welcomed Blacon’s selection as one of only 10 communities for the first phase of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge.

In May Arlene McCarthy MEP and The Secretary of State for the Environment and Climate Change, Ed Milliband received a presentation on the innovative work of Blacon Community Trust and Arlene has since been supporting Sustainable Blacon Ltd with their applications for funding said:

“This is a fantastic topical project that is turning the challenge of tackling climate change into a positive for the Blacon community. I will continue to work with them to ensure people of Blacon reap the benefits of energy saving and greening homes.”

 “Their plans to introduce SMART meters run alongside demands we have made at a European level for consumer rights to accurate and smart metering. We have also brought in a new law to ban discriminatory pricing in the energy market, including unfair pre-payment meter (PPM) charges. ”

“5.9 million households across the UK currently use pre-payment meters, around 800 of them in Blacon. They are often the poorest and most vulnerable customers, yet research has shown that they are paying up to £215 a year more for their gas and electricity, this project will ensure Blacon residents get a fair deal on energy and at the same time make a major contribution to cutting C02 emmissions.”

Notes for Editors:

What is the low carbon communities challenge?

The Low Carbon Community Challenge (LCCC) is a two-year research programme designed to test delivery options for achieving ambitious cuts in carbon emissions at community level.
Providing financial and advisory support to 20 test-bed communities, LCCC will enable the development of bespoke local schemes to improve energy efficiency and tackle the wider issue of climate change.

Helping to challenge and shape government policy, and to galvanise and support local action, LCCC will provide vital insights into the technical innovations and social changes required to enable Britain to reach its carbon reduction targets.

Specifically, the programme will help government understand the potential role of communities in the transition to a low carbon future, and the systems, infrastructure and governance required to make this future a reality. It will also help to establish positive models for community action, and enable the sharing of ideas, stories and information to inspire other communities to launch their own low carbon initiatives.