Fracking Film at Civic Centre on Wednesday November 11th

Doors open at 7pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. The event will take place in Board Rooms 3 & 4 (go straight there rather than wait at reception) at Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way , Wembley HA9 0FJ.

More about fracking...

Green Party welcomes suspension of Shell’s arctic oil and gas exploration

The Green Party has welcomed the suspension of Shell’s Arctic oil and gas exploration saying the decision was a “reaction to low oil prices” and illustrates the importance of “renewable energy sources”

Royal Dutch Shell announced that they’ve stopped plans to extract fossil fuels from the polar region citing difficulties in finding sufficient amounts of oil and gas.

To huge cheers from delegates Natalie Bennett brought today party’s conference in Bournemouth to a close giving the delegates the news and stating that world leaders must make a commitment to keeping oil and gas reserves “in the ground”.

Natalie Bennett said:

Campaigners against dirty energy will breathe a sigh of relief today. The decision was clearly a reaction to low oil prices and reflected the growing importance of renewable energy sources.

Shell and other oil and gas companies do not have a good track record when it comes to environmental safety. As we head to the Paris climate change talks later this year, global leaders must make a commitment to ensuring that fossil fuel reserves are kept in the ground, as the science dictates. We cannot allow Shell and others to return to the Arctic.

Greens put the heat on energy companies and the three main parties

The Green Party today accused the Coalition and Labour of “political point-scoring” in the energy bill debate, arguing that meaningful measures to address the problems of cold homes, fuel poverty, and soaring bills are being sidelined.

In a new briefing paper outlining its vision for a low-carbon, affordable energy future, the party calls for a major nationwide programme to make all homes energy efficient.   If funded through ‘recycled’ carbon taxes this could bring an estimated nine out of ten homes out of fuel poverty, quadruple carbon savings, and create up to 200,000 jobs across the UK.   

It also argues for a transformation of the energy market to allow community energy firms priority access to the Grid, and for greater financial support for renewable energy companies.

The paper criticises the Coalition’s changes to the Energy Company Obligation, arguing that “watering down efficiency commitments at precisely the time they are most needed

In a section on Labour’s policy, the Green Party says it welcomes the relief that a short term price freeze would bring, but questions why Labour is not pushing for greater local ownership and democratic control over our energy infrastructure.  

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:

It’s a scandal that the big energy companies are making large profits whilst many people are struggling with high bills and cold homes.  Sadly, by focussing on headline grabbing schemes, both main parties are sidelining  meaningful solutions to the energy bill crisis.

The failure of both main parties to seriously get behind serious energy efficiency measures is a key reason that energy bills remain high.   

We need a nationwide programme to make all homes super-energy efficient – with full insulation, modern boilers, and renewable energy sources.  By funding this through carbon tax revenues, the Government could bring nine out of ten homes out of fuel poverty, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

View the briefing paper HERE

Willesden Green: Fracking hell-not here! Demonstrate tomorrow

Brent Friends of the Earth (Brent FoE) says that fracking is a dirty word that local residents do not want, and they will be asking MPs, London Assembly members and the local Council to swear that they won’t allow it in Brent.

They will spelling out their message outside Willesden  Green Station tomorrow at 10.45am tomorrow (Saturday October 19th)

Later this year the Government is expected to open vast swathes of the country to fracking with a new round of licensing. This will bring the threat of fracking to thousands more people’s doorsteps. Brent, as the local planning authority, has the power to prevent this. Brent is one of many authorities on a list of potential sites under consideration for this controversial technology.

Ian Saville, Brent FoE spokesperson and Neasden resident, says, “fracking is a dirty technology that will damage our health, environment and climate. The resulting shale gas is a dirty fossil fuel that will add to the dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the environment. It should be left in the ground.”

“Brent residents, along with other communities up and down the country, don't want a dash for gas. If fracking is the answer, then the question must be wrong! If London Mayor Boris Johnson gets his way, we could see fracking across London. We need to send him and Brent a clear message that we do not want or need fracking to keep the lights on, nor can we count on it to reduce fuel bills. Instead we need to invest in renewables and energy saving to heat our homes.”

Brent FoE will also be running a stall outside Willesden Green tube station on the day and will be speaking to local residents about the problems with fracking.

Vulnerable to get help to find cheaper fuel tariffs

From London Councils
 

Vulnerable residents in up to 1.75million homes across London will be offered assistance by their local council to get a better energy deal and save money.  

The pioneering scheme involving 17 boroughs, including Brent,  and London Councils, the organisation which represents the capital’s local authorities, was given £686,655 by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) from its Cheaper Energy Together fund.

The initiative will help the capital’s most vulnerable residents by getting them a cheaper tariff for their gas and electricity bills.

Each borough plan to use their equal share of the funding to work with residents who could benefit most from switching their energy tariff and advise them what their options are. It is estimated that 325,000 homes in the 17 boroughs are in fuel poverty which means more than 10 per cent of income is spent on electricity and gas.

The aim of the project is to sign up as many Londoners as possible, especially those who struggle the most to keep warm, and collectively negotiate a better deal with the gas and electricity companies on their behalf.

Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Councillor Catherine West said: “People who most need to keep warm to stay healthy are the least likely to make sure they are on the best energy deal. Some of the most vulnerable Londoners will not turn the heating on because they do not want to risk running up a large bill.

“This cross borough scheme will make a real difference this winter by advising residents about their options and helping them to switch to cheaper gas and electricity tariffs or suppliers.”

Kingston Council is the lead borough for the scheme. Council leader, Councillor Derek Osbourne said: “With energy bills soaring, we must help Londoners get cheaper energy deals and improve their home energy efficiency. Councils across the capital will do all that they can to help people, particularly the vulnerable and those on low incomes, keep warm at home.

“Switching collectively to one domestic energy provider to get better energy deals can benefit us all as residents.”