“The Department of Energy and Climate Change and the OxFutures initiative are pleased to announce that the Powering Up conference for local authorities and community energy groups will take place on Thursday 4 September 2014 in Oxford.
We are delighted to announce that Rebecca Willis, expert on community energy issues, will be a keynote speaker on the day, and the event will be chaired by Futerra Co-founder, Ed Gillespie.
Speakers from pioneering projects around the UK will share their experience and a programme of breakout sessions will build a practical understanding of how more communities can work together for local energy.
“By working together, local authorities and communities have the power to back large-scale local energy projects. The Government is hugely supportive of this and in January published the first ever Community Energy Strategy.
"The Powering Up conference will help those who aspire to greater energy independence for their communities and inspire action by local authorities and communities groups as they establish their place in the UK’s energy market.”
- Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
“Tackling climate change and carbon reduction will only be successful if communities and individuals get involved and take local initiatives. Oxford City Council has been encouraging and supporting local low carbon groups across the city for several years and this conference is an opportunity to showcase the successes, and to stimulate more involvement of community groups across the UK”
- Bob Price, Leader Oxford City Council
“I've seen first hand how community projects can change the way that people think about energy. Local Authorities can play a role in the shift to an energy system in which people are active participants, not passive consumers.”
- Rebecca Willis, Associate, Co-operatives UK and Pure Leapfrog
"We're at an amazing and historical tipping point in the way our energy is generated and owned. The potential for unleashing energy independence, enhancing energy security and transforming energy sustainability is incredibly exciting. 'Powering Up' will help unlock these tremendous possibilities. I am thrilled to be part of it"
- Ed Gillespie, Co-Founder of Futerra
Further details of the programme and registration arrangements will be announced soon at http://oxfutures.org/powering-up/ and https://www.gov.uk/community-energy
The UK Community Energy Awards will also take place on the evening of 4 September following the conference and in the same venue. See http://www.communityenergyawards.org.uk/”
