I keep hearing the word sovereignty invoked in relation to energy. We once talked about energy security and maybe politicians think that the word “sovereignty” provides better cover for the ongoing support of fossil fuels. Dani Alexander used the concept to highlight the benefits of renewables and electrification but her article fails to talk about the communities that could make that happen.
I’d like to think sovereignty means households, businesses and communities owning and managing our renewable energy resources for collective and community benefit. I worry that the energy sector thinks they are delivering on that vision but fail to understand that we may prefer more local control too.
Last week I heard about the Community Wealth Building Bill in Scotland which requires parliament to report on how much wealth the Scottish Government is placing in the hands of ordinary folk. It also requires large local businesses like councils and universities to use their purchasing and other economic practices to support local economies. I was also introduced to the work of the employee and community ownership hub with a fascinating conversation about balancing the interests of customers, employees and communities in the way we set up ownership and control of enterprises.
We know that electrification and local energy can generate local benefits but will we go further and build stronger local economies with democratised energy supplies? Could our shift to clean energy transform more than just our energy system?
Goulburn Solar Farm is a most recent example in this vein. This Wednesday we’ll hear from them and look at Three different community energy journeys, in a special webinar for Sustainable House Day. Please share the event with anyone you know who is curious about community energy. I look forward to seeing you there.
Image Credit: “I don’t think that word means what you think it means gif”
