We have 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 campaigning by local Party Councils. 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 to campaign as a Party Council.
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.
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 the Local Power Plan 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, we are 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.
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.
Campaign resources
As a Party Council, there is a lot you can do to campaign on this issue. Here are some resources to get you started.
Hold a meeting on the Local Power Plan
We've created a sample presentation for a meeting you could hold on the Local Power Plan. If you want to arrange a guest speaker, we can help: contact your regional organiser or email us at membership@party.coop.
Ask your CLP delegate to take a motion to local CLPs
Download our sample motion below and ask CLP delegates to take it to local CLPs.
Write to your local Labour Council Leader
If you have a local Labour leader or mayor, download our sample letter and write to them, encouraging them to campaign on our Labour government’s record funding and Local Power Plan, and to take our ‘Local Power Starts Here’ motion (which you can also download here) to a meeting of full council to ensure your local authority takes full advantage of the opportunities created.
Write to your local Labour Labour Group Leader in Opposition
If your local Labour group is in opposition, download our sample letter and write to them, encouraging them to campaign on our Labour government’s record funding and Local Power Plan, and to take our ‘Local Power Starts Here’ motion (which you can also download here) to a meeting of full council to ensure your local authority takes full advantage of the opportunities created.
Write to your local newspaper
Read our guide to writing a great letter to a local newspaper editor, including a template letter for you to personalise.
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.
Social media graphics
If you have local social media accounts, you can use the graphics below - or circulate them to your members and encourage them to post them on their own platforms. You can download all the graphics together by clicking here or by right clicking (if you're on desktop) or long pressing (on mobile) on individual graphics below.