To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to support community-owned renewable energy.

This Government is committed to empowering communities and these projects, which put local people in the driving seat, are an important part of a clean, secure and affordable energy system. We applaud the work done by the local council in the hon. Member’s own constituency with the Plymouth Energy Community.

Since 2013, the UK Government has committed over £16m to support community energy. This includes the Rural Community Energy Fund which continues to offer feasibility and development finance for renewable energy projects. Community renewable energy projects also remain eligible to apply for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme.

We are pleased to support events of the current Community Energy Fortnight (24^th June – 7^th July) and are reviewing the latest State of the Sector report by Community Energy England.

This Government sees community energy as an important part of a wider local energy ecosystem; with cities, municipalities and local partners driving this agenda. As such we have already committed funding to identify and overcome local barriers to delivery in the short term while we understand the contribution and importance of this sector to the delivery of both the Industrial Strategy and the Clean Growth Plan.