West Midlands calls for more control over energy policy

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has published a new report outlining why more local control over energy policy will enable accelerated action on climate change. 

The Net-Zero Pathfinder document, which was published by the WMCA yesterday (March 9), outlines ten ‘asks’ of Government and stresses the need for a local approach in order to help the region to tackle climate change.

These asks include a regional programme for the wide-scale retrofitting of homes; a new model for investment in major energy infrastructure and keeping control over energy levies raised in the region and local retention of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

The paper builds on the Government’s Energy White Paper, which set out how the UK intends to clean up its energy network and reach its net zero emissions target of 2050.

The WMCA has said that they hope this more localised approach will boost jobs and accelerate the region’s plans for a green industrial revolution, while also enabling the decarbonisation of homes.

They have also said said they aim to be the country’s first ever net-zero pathfinder region.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: ‘The West Midlands is facing a climate emergency, and it is absolutely critical that we deliver on our #WM2041 plans to have the region carbon neutral by 2041. With brilliant green initiatives like the electric bus city in Coventry, our Brownfield First approach and our plans for the UK’s first Gigafactory, we believe we are well placed to achieve our goal.

‘But we want to go further and faster and we realise that clean energy is fundamental to these plans. That is why today we’ve set out our pathfinder ambitions, including the support we need from the Government to make this happen. The West Midlands led the way with the industrial revolution, and we can do so again with a green industrial revolution.’

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