Siobhan Baillie's weekly column, written before the Stroud MP went on maternity leave.

One of the defining characteristics of Stroud is its enthusiasm for green energy and green issues.

It is a passion I share and, if coronavirus has told us anything, it must be we need to take stock of our world and rebuild it in better ways.

There are many green initiatives in the UK with offshore wind being a notable growth industry. We are becoming less reliant on coal. In May, the UK went the whole calendar month without using the fossil fuel to generate electricity.

However, we must continue to find other ways to generate energy cleanly and I support a Green-Blue focused recovery alongside our huge push for a post-coronavirus financial, business and job revival. And the ‘blue’ is not for my party colours. It is for water and, specifically, tidal lagoon power.

We are lucky, tidal power harnesses Britain’s unique natural coastal resources to make an important contribution towards meeting our de-carbonisation goals. Tidal lagoons offer a route to homegrown large-scale electricity as cheap as solar and wind but with far greater reliability and lifespan. The supply chain can be wholly British and would potentially deliver jobs across Gloucestershire.

To get things moving, there is an urgent need to again consider the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon ahead of planning consents because its go ahead would set the scene for much larger projects to follow. It will revive and sustain industries in multiple constituencies through a strong nationwide supply chain. There is basically an opportunity for every part of the UK, including Stroud, to become involved. The aim is for the UK to be net zero by 2050.