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While 82% of councils have declared a climate emergency, just 6% have actually completed a local area energy plan (LAEP) setting out their pathway to net zero.
This has led to calls for the government to provide guidance and funding support for more local authorities to produce these decarbonisation blueprints or risk some areas “being left behind”.
The Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), which helped develop the LAEP approach in 2015, says there are currently 66 local authorities that have adopted or are currently developing a LAEP (17% of all councils). This compares to 15 at the same stage last year. There are 23 authorities that have completed their plan (shown on this interactive map).
In a new report, ESC hails this increase in proactive councils but also sets out the need for urgent acceleration of the programme.
In particular it wants to see government endorse the current LAEP process as a national standard and align this with funding opportunities. It also wants the process to be embedded within the National Planning Policy Framework and to ensure standardisation so progress can be measured. The report also highlights the need for a national advisory service to support local authorities in building the skills and capacity to carry out their net zero plans.
To ensure there is consistency across the country on data inputs and outputs, ESC has called for a sector taskforce to be set up by government.
The lead author for the report, Dr Anna Stegman said: “Places are acting each day, many racing ahead with LAEPs whilst others are in danger of being left behind. This could lead to inefficient and uncoordinated investment in infrastructure and net zero project delivery which could drive up consumer bills.”
ESC chief executive Guy Newey, said the next phase of decarbonisation would be increasingly local and sensitivities around the particular characteristics of an area would need to be addressed. He said LAEPs could be a “key tool” for this.
He added: “If we are to decarbonise our energy system effectively and at least cost, in a way that works for local areas, we need to accelerate Local Area Energy Planning now, and do it consistently nationwide. The time and the place is now.”
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