A huge government investment into locally-owned clean energy projects has been welcomed by the Mayor of York and North and Yorkshire.
David Skaith said the ‘time had come to harness the region’s strengths’ following the announcement from the Government, and Great British Energy (GBE), that it would provide £1billion in funding for local, clean energy generation projects.
GBE, the publicly-owned company established by the UK Government, said the £1billion Local Power Plan would support locally-owned clean energy generation projects, such as solar, on community buildings like libraries, leisure centres and miners’ welfare clubs.
David Skaith said: “Communities should be truly at the heart of local energy projects, making sure everyone benefits from cleaner, greener energy. York and North Yorkshire has the knowledge, resources and ambition to change how we produce energy and heat our homes.
“Working side by side with Great British Energy, we can get more community energy projects off the ground, strengthening our push to be England’s first carbon negative region by 2040. This is the largest public investment in community energy in our history. It’s time to harness our region’s strengths to lower bills and clean up our air.”
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is also one of 10 authorities announced as partnering with GBE to support renewable energy projects.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Britain’s drive for clean energy is about answering the call for a different kind of economy that works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society. Local and community energy is at the heart of our government’s vision.
“With the biggest ever investment in community energy in Britain’s history, this government is saying to every local community: we want you to be able to own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community not simply out to the big energy companies.
“By giving local people the chance to take control of their energy, this government is making a fundamental choice to transfer wealth and power back to communities across Britain.”
The government said it is building clean-homegrown power at every scale – from community owned projects to major large-scale infrastructure. The Local Power Plan is also intended to address barriers currently holding back many community energy projects – which the Government said range from financial and regulatory to lack of commercial or technical expertise.