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We are writing as a coalition of local government organisations and supporting stakeholders to ask for the role of local and community energy to be set out in the government’s forthcoming Clean Power 2030 plan.
Rt Hon. Ed Miliband MP
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
55 Whitehall London
SW1A 2HP
CC:
Rt Hon. Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Energy)
Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030
Jürgen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy
03 December 2024
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing as a coalition of local government organisations and supporting stakeholders to ask for the role of local and community energy to be set out in the government’s forthcoming Clean Power 2030 plan.
We warmly welcome the Clean Power plan to accelerate the decarbonisation of our energy system. Alongside this, the government has committed to deliver 8GW of local and community energy through Great British Energy and the Local Power Plan. We believe it is important that the Local Power Plan targets are aligned and in-step with the Clean Power 2030 plan.
Local and community energy can provide people with a direct stake in their energy futures and enable local government to shape local energy systems to meet the unique needs of their places. By engaging communities in the energy transition, we can build stronger public support for the development of clean energy infrastructure – a critical part of achieving the
wider net zero goals.
Unlocking 8GW of local and community energy would have a galvanising effect across the UK’s cities and regions. Already, local authorities across the UK are producing plans for developing energy infrastructure, enabling warm and low carbon homes and linking this vital transition to local economic development.
The Clean Power 2030 plan will set out what is ‘needed’ when it comes to the technologies, capacity, location and infrastructure to deliver the 2030 targets. By setting out the role of local and community energy within the Clean Power plan, government could unlock local energy ambitions. In particular, it is important that local and community energy projects can access grid capacity as part of the connections reform process.
We have provided examples from across the UK of the added value of local and community energy and how it can help people and places thrive. We would be pleased to provide any further evidence that your Department would find helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Merlin Hyman,
Chief Executive, Regen
Cllr Adam Hug,
Chair LGA Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board, on behalf of the Local Government Association
Christopher Hammond,
Chief Executive, UK100
Welsh Local Government Association
Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales (CLAW)