- The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill had its second reading on Friday
- The Bill was rejected by officials
- It was initially brought forward by Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat
The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill, which would have made it compulsory for all new homes to have solar panels installed, has been rejected by the House of Commons.
Originally brought forward by Liberal Democrat, Max Wilkinson, the bill, also known as the ‘Sunshine Bill’, had its second reading on 17 January where Wilkinson said the Bill could “help tackle the twin crises of the cost-of-living crisis and climate change”.
Wilkson said that compulsory solar panels on new homes could result in a “future in which people have lower bills, a future in which we are less reliant on dirty and expensive fossil fuels often imported from abroad and a future in which this country’s energy supplies are more secure”.
The energy price cap increased a further 1.2% from 1 January, setting it as £1,738 a year for a typical household. For context, this is almost a £1,000 increase in less than five years.
While it’s difficult to determine the cause of these rising prices, it’s widely believed that increased demand for oil and gas as a result of Covid-19 lockdowns and the Russian and Ukraine war is to blame.
Wilkson, as reported by the BBC, described the previous action on renewables in housing as “short-sighted” and that bills could and should be hundreds of pounds lower for everyone”.
