Following Conservative leader David Cameron’s call to local authorities to fight climate change at the Local Government Association’s conference last week, Peter Burt outlines alternatives to nuclear power Prime Minister Tony Blair’s headline-hitting announcement that nuclear power is ‘back on the agenda with a vengeance’ will have brought a wry smile to the face of any civil servant analysing the 2,000-plus submissions received in response to the Government’s recent energy review. Evidence presented to the review team shows that the country’s energy options are far broader than nuclear alone – and that locally-led, renewable alternatives can deliver results far more quickly and cost-effectively than big nuclear projects. ‘A glance at some of the responses made paints a picture which is both profoundly exciting and deeply depressing,’ says Stewart Kemp, secretary of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities network – a group of 80 local councils in the UK and Republic of Ireland which are opposed to the development of nuclear power. ‘It’s depressing that so little has been done to implement the excellent policies on energy efficiency and renewables from the 2003 Energy White Paper. ‘On the other hand, the review has highlighted again the huge potential of renewable energy and shown how much can be done at the local level to tackle the threat of climate change through local energy strategies based on energy efficiency and decentralised energy generation.’ The Local Government Association’s energy review submission has highlighted the pivotal role that local government must play in delivering the step change in reducing carbon dioxide emissions envisaged in the 2003 White Paper. Local government is uniquely placed to promote the development of low carbon, sustainable energy systems, as a sustainable alternative to nuclear power. The LGA estimates that an average county council produces some 30,000 tonnes of CO2 every year from its own activities, with the community it serves generating around 10 million tonnes. Even a small district will emit around 3,000 tonnes corporately, with the local community generating around 300,000 tonnes. As providers of services such as transport and as owners of social housing and public buildings, local authorities can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their own activities and stimulate savings across the wider community through planning policies, strategic partnerships, and Local Area Agreements. Innovative local authorities are already developing their own local energy strategies. Mr Kemp highlights Nottinghamshire, one of NFLA’s member authorities, as a leader in the field. ‘Nottinghamshire fully deserved the Beacon status it has earned for its work in promoting and developing sustainable energy,’ he says. ‘The city purchases “green” electricity generated from sustainable sources and in 2003, the council met a target to cut carbon dioxide emissions from its own buildings by 25%. ‘It has worked successfully in partnership with energy companies, community groups, and business to generate and use energy efficiently.’ Other players are keen to follow Nottinghamshire’s lead. The Greater London Authority has established the London Climate Change Agency, with a remit to decentralise energy and cut emissions, working in partnership with top global companies such as BP, HSBC, and Legal & General. In March the mayor of London published a ground-breaking report, Powering London into the 21st century, based on research by engineering consultants PB Power, which showed how London could cut carbon emissions by more than 30% in 20 years by adopting decentralised energy instead of nuclear power. Electricity, heat, and cooling will be generated close to homes and businesses, using combined heat and power plant and renewable technology, with distribution through community heating and cooling networks. Sweden and Denmark have already been generating energy in this way for at least 30 years. Mr Kemp says we are running out of time to tackle climate change. ‘We must adopt solutions that cut the most carbon as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, and nuclear, with its costly waste legacy, is not one of these,’ he says. ‘Future generations will benefit if local authorities are enabled to take the lead now in developing low carbon energy strategies.’ n Peter Burt is development adviser for the NFLA
