This Labour Government are committed to ensuring that we utilise the opportunities offered by clean energy.
We believe that this sector should be for everyone, not just the richest and most powerful in society, and we have proven this ambition through the establishment of Great British Energy (GBE) in May 2025, less than a year after the 2024 General Election.
GBE is the first publicly owned energy company in 70 years; ensuring that British people can own and benefit from our natural energy resources.
I am proud that it is this Labour Government that has taken this important step, and the benefits of this are already being seen, whether that be enhancing energy security, reducing household bills, or creating thousands of jobs across the country.
Now, I am pleased to welcome the Government’s Local Power Plan.
This will deliver the biggest public investment in community energy in this country’s history.
This is a transformative plan for communities, backed by £1 billion of funding from GBE, and working with local groups, local authorities, and devolved governments across the UK.
We want to create a bottom- up vision, securing not just publicly owned, but community- owned power.
In Barnsley, we have a proud heritage, with a local identity connected to our industrial history and our local environment.
Indeed, Barnsley was built on the coal that powered the nation. It is right, then, that local people can secure a stake in the new clean energy powering the places they live- building on that pride, respect, and local identity.
The Government funding will be available for locally- owned clean energy generation projects. This includes for projects such as solar on community buildings, such as libraries, leisure centres, and miners’ welfare clubs.
Initially, GBE will support 1,000 clean energy projects, helping to deliver clean power by 2030. These projects will be developed and led by communities and local government.
GBE has already successfully invested £5 million for new community projects in England, as well as £255 million to enable over 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites, and multiple military sites.
This has brought benefits such as increasing renewable energy, reducing energy bills, and increasing energy security.
This is a huge step towards building a new generation of local and community-owned energy for Britain, and I am proud that this Labour Government is introducing these important measures.
Anyone who would like to apply for the Local Power Plan is encouraged to come forward with proposals for your local area by GBE, who will offer support to ensure this can happen.
You can do this at GBE’s website: www.gbe.gov.uk/local-power-plan.