Labour has a great story to tell on local power – and it’s one many voters haven’t heard yet.
That makes it a powerful issue for candidates. The Local Power Plan will help communities generate their own renewable energy: lowering bills, boosting local economies and tackling climate change at the same time.
This briefing explains what Labour and the Co-operative Party are delivering on local power, and how you can use it on the doorstep and on social media.
The policy
What is community energy?
Community energy is renewable energy schemes owned and run by local people, often through co-operatives, community benefit societies, or partnerships with councils. These projects can include rooftop solar panels, onshore wind turbines and even river hydro power.
Crucially, instead of the benefits going to distant shareholders, the profits from energy generated by these schemes is reinvested locally – supporting community organisations, reducing energy bills and funding local projects. Community energy projects are already helping to power nearly 200,000 homes across the UK.
What is the Local Power Plan?
The Local Power Plan, delivered through Great British Energy, will massively expand the number of community-owned renewable energy projects in the UK. Labour is investing a record £1 billion pounds to create 1000 renewable energy projects across the country in the next four years.
Doorstep line
Community-owned energy can lower bills, boost our local economy and help tackle climate change at the same time.
The politics
The Local Power Plan is one of the most significant investments in renewable energy Britain has ever seen. Yet it remains relatively underreported, meaning many voters do not yet realise the scale of what is being delivered.
Talking about local power helps Labour and Co-operative candidates show how clean energy can benefit communities directly while strengthening Britain’s energy security.
Delivering practical climate action
Many of our potential voters care deeply about tackling climate change and making the switch to clean energy.
Labour and Co-operative representatives share those voters’ ambition – but rather than simply talking about renewables like other parties, Labour is getting on with building it.
Taking back control of our energy
Recent global events have shown the risks of relying on energy produced and owned abroad, leaving Britain exposed to volatile global oil and gas markets.
Some parties argue that Britain should continue relying heavily on fossil fuels. But that leaves our energy system exposed to price shocks. What's more, renewable energy projects can be built faster and more cheaply than new fossil fuel infrastructure. The Local Power Plan is helping communities take back control by supporting clean power produced and owned right here in Britain.
Action on the cost of living
Local power is not just about energy policy – it is also about helping tackle the cost of living.
Community renewable energy projects can help reduce energy costs for councils, public buildings and community organisations. They can also generate income that is reinvested locally, and even directly cut bills for people who live in the area.
Instead of profits from energy going to distant shareholders, communities can use the profits from their projects to benefit the places where they live.
The Local Power Plan shows that tackling the climate crisis and tackling the cost of living can go hand in hand.
Doorstep line
Rather than simply talking about climate action, Labour is getting on with building it.
What does local power mean for your community?
Great British Energy has set an ambitious goal: to support a renewable energy project in every community in Britain by 2030.
When people hear “renewable energy project”, they often picture a large wind turbine or a huge solar farm.
But community energy projects can be much more local and visible in everyday places.
They could include:
- Solar panels on public buildings like schools and libraries
- Solar panels on community buildings like community centres or social clubs
- Larger solar or wind projects on community or council owned land, which creates profits that go to local community
These projects can help reduce energy costs for public buildings, while also generating income that can be reinvested in the local community.
That means local power isn’t just about energy policy. It’s about communities owning assets that benefit the places they live.
Across the country, thousands of communities will have the opportunity to develop renewable energy projects that lower bills, strengthen their local economy and benefit the whole community.
The role of Local Government
Local authorities will play a key role in expanding community energy.
Councils can:
- identify buildings suitable for rooftop solar installations
- work with community energy groups and co-operatives
- provide land for larger community renewable projects
- support local energy ownership models
- reduce council energy bills through local power generation
Manifesto ideas
Here's some ideas that you could include in your local manifesto. To find out more, use our "Build your own Co-operative Manifesto" tool.
- Review and register council land and property which could be made available to community energy installations and projects
- Plan a retrofitting programme with local community energy co-operatives – including supporting new and existing retrofit co-ops to grow and deliver projects
- Introduce a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP): LAEPs enable councils to design and develop a plan for local energy decarbonisation – identifying needs, stakeholders and sources of power. A ‘local community energy strategy’ could be part of the LAEP.
- Establish a Community Energy Fund and allocate council land to community energy project developments
Campaign lines
If you're looking for campaign lines to use on the doorstep or in your leaflets, here's some ideas below.
- The Local Power Plan puts power back where it belongs — in our communities.
- Labour is investing £1 billion in community energy, helping local areas generate their own clean power from solar, wind and other renewable projects. That means energy owned by local people, with profits reinvested back into communities.
- Community energy can lower bills, boost our local economy and help tackle climate change at the same time. Instead of relying on distant energy companies, we can build projects that benefit the places we live.
- Councils, co-operatives and community groups will be able to develop projects that are owned by local people directly.
- This is a practical way to tackle the cost of living and rising bills while building a cleaner future owned by all of us.
- In these local elections, a vote for Labour is a vote for local power, lower bills and stronger communities.
- Cleaner energy. Stronger local economies. More control for local people. Together, we can make our area part of Britain’s clean energy future.
Example Facebook post
The Local Power Plan could build renewable energy projects right here in [area]: that could mean solar on our schools and public buildings owned by local people, with profits reinvested here rather than extracted by distant energy companies.
Lower bills, local power and stronger communities. That's what this election is about. Vote for me and vote Labour & Co-operative on 7th May and that's what I'll be fighting for.
Example Instagram post
There's £1 billion coming for community-owned energy in Britain.
@UKLabour and @CoopParty are funding 1,000 new local renewable projects, putting solar on schools, community centres, and other public buildings. That means lower bills, local power, and stronger communities.
[Area] should get its share. Vote for me on 7th May and I'll make sure we do.Example X post
There's £1 billion coming for community-owned energy across Britain.
@UKLabour & @CoopParty want [area] to get its share: putting solar on local buildings and lowering bills, with profits staying here instead of going to distant shareholders.
That's why I'm standing on 7th May
Example Bluesky post
There's £1 billion coming for community-owned energy across Britain.
Labour & @CoopParty.party.coop want [area] to get its share: putting solar on local buildings and lowering bills, with profits staying here instead of going to distant shareholders.
That's why I'm standing on 7th May
Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom. Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R.
Draft social media posts
Here's some sample posts you could include on social media.