The Chair welcomed Helen Norris, Stakeholder
Engagement and CSR Manager, Helen Boyle, Strategic Decarbonisation
Manager, and Mike Taylor, Customer Engagement Manager and Strategic
Projects from Electricity North West (ENW) who gave a presentation
to the meeting. A copy of the presentation is set out in the
minutes.
The presentation provided the Committee with
an update on Electricity North West's leading the North West to
Zero Carbon Emissions plan outlining their work for the next six
months.
In response to questions it was confirmed
that:
- Electricity North
West's community energy fund known as 'Powering our Communities'
was an annual project that would hopefully open again for bids
around September/October 2019.
- Air source heat pumps
whilst expensive to install, were cheaper to run and a more
efficient form of energy. Incentives were also in place to
encourage the uptake of renewable heat technologies amongst
householders.
- More could be done to
save electricity by reducing the use of lighting and using natural
light more or using LED lights. A culture change was needed to
ensure energy efficiencies were made by the end user. It was
highlighted that using less equalled more capacity on the network
which in turn meant that more could happen.
- On how Electricity
North West communicated with small businesses and end users to
start the transition, the Committee was informed that they were
looking to build a strategic dialogue with the larger stakeholders,
such as the county council to discuss how they could help and
support them to get the information out there and to filter the
information down. More engagement at grass roots level was
needed.
- Solar will generally
pay for itself within five years. Electricity North West was
looking for businesses to encourage solar uptake on rooftops.
- Headroom was created
in the network from previous initiatives successfully completed by
Electricity North West. Electricity North West had also forecasted
the impact onto the network from the uptake of Electric Vehicles
and other technologies. Further information on the possible
constraints was set out in their 'Distributed Future Energy
Scenarios' document.
- By controlling the
voltage on the network, the 'Smart Street' grid side energy
efficiency project would help to create capacity on the network and
provide a saving for the customer.
- Work was underway to
set the framework for the next price control period which was due
to start on 1 April 2023, and would likely run for five years.
The Committee noted that a representative from
the county council was needed to sit on Electricity North West's
Sustainability Advisory Panel, to help deliver their role in the
transition to low carbon.
The Committee in formulating recommendations
raised the following suggestions:
- A need to influence
district councils to implement low carbon technology conditions on
planning applications.
- Explore partnership
working opportunities to establish a community heat network.
- Hold a green summit
for Lancashire and possibly with Cumbria.
- The county council to
lead by example.
- Invite appropriate
representatives from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership,
Lancashire Renewables Ltd, Lancashire Energy HQ and the county
council's energy team to future scheduled meetings of the
Committee.
- County Councillor Ed
Nash psc to continue as rapporteur on
behalf of the Committee and report back on low carbon technology
and legislation.
The Committee also noted that the Cabinet
Committee on Climate Change and the Environment and a Cabinet
Working Group on Energy and Environment had been
disestablished.
Resolved: That;
- The Cabinet Member
for Economic Development, Environment and Planning give
consideration to holding a Green Summit in Spring 2020.
- The Cabinet give
consideration to the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Carbon
Reduction.
- The new Chair of
Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Limited be invited to a future
meeting of the External Scrutiny Committee to explain the new
Lancashire Energy Strategy and activities arising from the key
findings.
- Representatives of
Lancashire Renewables Limited, Lancashire Energy HQ and the County
Council's Energy Team be invited to attend a future meeting of the
External Scrutiny Committee to explain the work they are
undertaking in relation to low carbon technology.
- Working through the
Lancashire Leaders, all district councils and the unitary
authorities across Lancashire be encouraged to make carbon
reduction a consistent factor in all planning applications and
local plans; and adopt a checklist of low carbon technologies to
include but not limited to solar, electric vehicle charging points
(including wireless) and heat source pumps.
6.
County Councillor Ed Nash continue to function as a rapporteur and
report back at the next scheduled meeting of the External Scrutiny
Committee on findings relating to low carbon technology and
legislation.