In a motion to next Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, Sheffield Green Councillors are calling for more power to be generated in Sheffield from local renewable energy sources.
Ecclesall Green Councillor, Tessa Lupton, who is proposing the motion, said,
“The reality of climate change is more tangible with each passing year. It is simply inexplicable that the Government is giving permission to extract more fossil fuels from the North Sea and the South Atlantic. All the evidence from climate scientists says we need to keep oil and gas in the ground – or under the sea – and transition to renewable energy much more swiftly than we are doing.
“Labour have just allowed a licence for the new Jackdaw gas field. This will not reduce domestic fuel bills and will create only 27 jobs. By contrast, action at a local level can really lower household energy bills reduce carbon emissions.
“The Climate Bonds initiative was first proposed by Green Councillors back in 2022 and went live late last year. It raised £1 million in a month. The really positive thing is that we are able to fund local projects with investment from local people: plus, they get a return on their investment. In the first round of the scheme, 21 Sheffield schools will have solar panels installed. The reduction in school energy bills will mean they have more funding to spend on books and teaching. This really is a win-win-win project.
“There are plenty of benefits from having more locally produced energy. It reduces pressure on the national grid and contributes to national security and Sheffield’s economic security;
“There is an inspiring amount of work going on to reduce carbon emissions and reduce people’s energy bills in Sheffield. Millions of pounds are being sourced for decarbonisation of social and private homes, including off-gas properties. There are plans to bring all council homes up to a higher energy-efficiency standard. There are pioneering net-zero-in-operation council homes and policies promoting the generation of local energy in the draft local plan;
“A lot has been done but we need to do more. I am pleased that the Council will be seeking more funding for solar panels from climate bonds. This time we will be aiming to raise £2 million to help fund the installation of solar panels and battery storage on 212 council homes and more local schools.
Manor Castle Ward Councillor and Deputy Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, Ruth Abbey, said,
“The Council has developed a Local Area Energy Plan to deliver a resilient, inclusive and sustainable energy system which meets community needs. It also has the additional benefits of providing greater energy security and affordable energy bills.
“We are working in partnership with several renewable energy organisations in Sheffield in a bid to Great British Energy. We aim to deliver community energy schemes that will reduce emissions and lower fuel bills;
“There is a lot of positive action but, without consistent policies from the Government, we are taking one step forward and two steps back. Labour has supported the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport alongside a £2 billion cut to programmes such as supporting the transition from gas boilers to heat pumps. These backward-looking decisions will make it much harder to achieve our climate targets.
“Greens are calling on the government to prioritise funding for community renewables over drilling for fossil fuels. In the absence of support from the Government, Greens will use all the power we have locally to improve homes and generate more local, renewable energy.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Green motion is published at https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=43441:
Notice of Motion Regarding “Local Power for the People”
– Given by Councillor Tessa Lupton and To Be Seconded by Councillor Ruth Abbey
That this Council:-
(a) welcomes energy production and use initiatives in Sheffield, like solar panels on 21 schools funded by climate bonds; further climate bonds for more solar panels on social housing and schools; the inclusion of battery storage; sourcing millions for decarbonisation of social and private homes, including off-gas properties; plans to bring all council homes up to EPC C; pioneering net-zero-in-operation council homes and promoting local energy in the draft local plan;
(b) notes these initiatives bring down household fuel bills as well as the city’s carbon emissions;
(c) notes climate bonds provide a sound financial return for people in Sheffield who are investing in our city’s future;
(d) welcomes the Local Area Energy Plan to deliver a resilient, inclusive and sustainable energy system that meets community needs and the wider benefits of energy security, affordability and shared prosperity;
(e) contrasts this with Government actions to license Jackdaw gas field that will have no impact on energy bills; license an Israeli oil company to drill near the Falklands; the proposed £2 billion cut to the budget of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; cutting the boiler upgrade scheme; and the consequent negative impact that these will have on green jobs and skills;
(f) supports the GB Energy Bid to partner with renewable energy organisations in Sheffield to deliver schemes that will reduce emissions and build community wealth;
(g) stresses the importance of building our own energy-generating facilities to create local power – contributing to a safer, more resilient local energy system;
(h) believes that locally produced energy reduces pressure on the national grid and contributes to national security and Sheffield’s economic security;
(i) resolves to support the Local Area Energy Plan and asks the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee to consider adding to its work programme the development of a Sheffield Community Energy action plan focusing on more locally owned renewable energy sources;
(j) requests the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider adding to its work programme the further expansion of the Sheffield Climate Bonds to accelerate renewable energy projects;
(k) calls on the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to draw up alternative plans for the Doncaster Sheffield Airport site focused on affordable social housing built to Passivhaus standards and a solar farm to generate local clean energy, and requests that this motion be forwarded to the South Yorkshire Mayor;
(l) recognises the invaluable work of the Sustainability team and believes that every directorate should have a dedicated Sustainability Officer;
(m) requests the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee to consider adding to its work programme the revision of climate change assessments so they are embedded into policy making at the outset, including nature assessments;
(n) asks the Governance Committee to consider adding to its work programme the establishment of a member-led Climate Oversight Board; and
(o) calls on the Government to prioritise funding for community renewables over drilling for fossil fuels in the Rosebank oilfield and promote a prime-time screening of the National Emergency Briefing, and requests that this motion be forwarded to the relevant Minister.
