Our co-chair Kate was present at the launch of the Local Power Plan earlier this week – she said:

“The Local Power Plan recognises the multiple interconnected impacts that community energy projects have, and the potential for community wealth building that they offer. The £1bn investment demonstrates a commitment to supporting and growing this model, with a vision that ‘by 2030, every community in the UK will have the opportunity to own a local energy project’.

“The plan builds on the knowledge, experience and success of community energy groups across the UK and the ‘working with’ not ‘doing to’ approach is welcomed.

“The intention to listen to what community groups are saying, and to act as a connector between various stakeholders, is positive.

“In particular the recognition of Local Authorities as key partners in the Local Power Plan, with targeted support, has the potential to make a big difference at a practical level.“

“The longer-term ambitions to explore and support a wider range of local energy business models, for example through the Local Energy Platform and Smart Community Energy, is exciting and I look forward to seeing this develop.”

As Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Secretary of State Ed Miliband MP put it: “it’s a glimpse of a different economy”.