Kevin Foster, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Torbay, has today (Monday 6th October 2014) backed a Friends of the Earth campaign to help the bay’s schools save thousands of pounds by installing solar power.
Friends of the Earth estimates that schools could each save up to £8000 per year by going solar, more money to spend on libraries, playgrounds and trips. They would also help to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions, and provide an opportunity for children to learn about clean energy.
The environment charity’s Run on Sun campaign wants all schools to be able to be powered by solar power. It is calling on the Government to make it easier for schools to take out solar loans to install panels, while raising awareness of the benefits and signposting schools to different funding methods, as well as running a national competition for schools to win solar panels.
In Spring the government launched its own leaflet offering advice on how schools could go solar, which was unveiled by Greg Barker and Michael Gove at Barnes Primary School in south west London earlier this year. Michael Gove committed to ask the Chancellor whether the rules could be changed to allow schools to access finance for solar panels.
Speaking after meeting Friends of the Earth Campaigners at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Kevin said: “This is a fantastic initiative. If every school in the UK was run on sun they could save over £200 million pounds per year, while generating clean energy at the same time.”
Friends of the Earth Renewable Energy Campaigner Anna Watson added: ‘It’s fantastic to have Kevin’s support. The potential of solar power is enormous and with his support we can help more schools to save money through solar power, bringing renewable energy right into the heart of our towns and cities.”
For more information on Friends of the Earth’s Run on Sun campaign visit www.foe.co.uk/runonsun