Power Shift

UK100, Quantum
May 2021
Our Power Shift report is the most comprehensive examination of the powers local authorities have and need to deliver on climate ever undertaken. It draws on previous expert reports, including those produced for government, combined with a series of interviews with local authorities and other stakeholder organisations.
In UK100's response to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's inquiry on community energy, we outlined five key priorities: establishing a stable policy environment through a national strategy, creating consistent funding streams, streamlining planning processes, building a sustainable and inclusive market with proper financial incentives, and enhancing technical support. As a network of 116 local authorities committed to rapid net zero transition, we emphasised the critical role of local leadership in scaling up community energy projects.
In UK100's response to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's inquiry on workforce planning for clean energy, we outlined three key priorities: establishing a coordinated national skills strategy through Skills England, empowering local authorities to drive green skills development with proper funding and support, and increasing investment in training and education. As a network of 116 local authorities committed to rapid net zero transition, we emphasised the need for standardised training programmes and clear career pathways.
In our response to ofgem's consultation on the Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) policy framework, we highlighted our support for RESP's bottom-up approach but emphasised the need for standardised local energy planning, better data consistency, increased local authority capacity, clear accountability frameworks, and effective stakeholder engagement to deliver regional energy strategies.
In our response to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), we argued that the NPPF must prioritise climate change as the primary focus of planning. We called for stronger support for local climate action, explicit carbon impact assessments, and greater protection for carbon-sequestering habitats while emphasising the need to align with Net Zero goals.
UK100's latest report "Local Net Zero 2.0: The Moment to Deliver" welcomes the new government's clean energy, devolution and planning reform ambitions while exposing the inherited "broken local government system" that is hampering councils' ability to deliver on them.