Your MP is
Labour
MP for Norwich South
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Reduce carbon emissions and deliver positive social change in rural communities.
I live in a rural community in your constituency and currently use oil as my main source of heating.
I recognise we all need to make changes to how we heat our home to reduce our carbon emissions. Whilst some properties will be able to switch to a heat pump, for many oil heated homes like mine, this isn’t a realistic option for several important reasons:
I want to reduce my carbon emissions, but I need a solution that works for me. I’ve been following with interest the industry demonstration project of the renewable liquid fuel Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and I believe this is my best, and only, option:
But more than that, this is an opportunity to drive positive social change in rural communities. Subsidising the transition of every property to a heat pump will cost the government billions. This money could be spent in other areas to improve social mobility.
Rural communities also often have higher levels of fuel poverty and poor quality housing. As a result, they miss out on opportunities to apply for government heat pump grants. This leads to a social divide between those who can afford to top up the funding and switch to a heat pump, and those who can’t. Even households deemed ‘able to pay’ can’t, in most cases, afford the high costs.
By supporting renewable liquid fuels, alongside heat pumps, the government can deliver on its net zero commitments and achieve positive social change.
I was pleased that within the Energy Act, which became law on 26th October 2023, legislation was approved to allow for a renewable liquid heating fuel obligation which would kick start the introduction of this vital fuel. It was also positive to see support for this across all political parties in both houses of Parliament.
When the legislation was introduced, we were promised that a consultation on technical issues would be launched within 12 months. This has not happened. I am therefore writing to you as my local MP to ask you to use your offices to press the Government to move quickly on this. I would be grateful if you could forward this on to the Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.
HVO is a proven and affordable solution and enables progress with decarbonisation to continue, whilst upholding the promise made by the new Government not to force people to rip out their boilers. It also wouldn’t cost the government anything to deliver.
This solution has significant rural support, and it is therefore surprising that we have not seen the consultation. I look forward to your response and thank you for your support on this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Address]
Copyright 2022
