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Compared to government and elected representatives' support for solar energy in other major European countries such as Germany, Spain, France and Italy, the UK hasbeen conspicuously slow to build support for alternative energy sources outside nuclear and wind. A change is on the horizon as a new campaign gets underway in the UK Parliament. EDM 689 (Early Day Motion), dubbed ‘We Support Solar’, has attracted 46 MPs to sign the EDM and support solar energy in the UK.

The MPs believe that the current Government's 2008 renewable energy strategy consultation procedures were ‘negative’ towards solar photovoltaics as a technology that would significantly support the Government’s 2020 carbon dioxide reduction targets, already considered to be at threat due to insufficient clarity and action.

The mention of ‘photovoltaics’ in itself could be important as only solar thermal water systems were included in preliminary strategies. The EDM members are now specifically targeting photovoltaics, which could also lead to thousands of new green jobs as well as helping to meet carbon reduction goals.

With the UK Government's ‘Renewable Energy Strategy’ due to be published in the Spring of 2009, the ‘We Support Solar’ campaign is seeking more MP signatures via the UK public urging constituency MPs to back the campaign.

Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions that are submitted for debate in the House of Commons to draw attention to important matters that are supported by a collective of MPs.