LONDON, 17 June 2026 — A cross-party committee of MPs has today backed long-standing calls from local leaders to give communities a real stake in the clean power being built around them and warned the Government it will miss its own delivery targets without them.

In its report ‘Get connected: How community energy can turbocharge the transition’, published today, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee finds that community ownership of energy is "in danger of being left behind in the transition unless the Department takes urgent action." It warns that areas hosting large-scale renewable projects too often "see pylons but none of the profits."

The Committee says it was "not convinced … that the Government will deliver 8GW by 2030, from the current level of 411MW produced in the UK in 2025" and calls for its recommendations to be delivered at pace through the Energy Independence Bill now before Parliament.

UK100, the cross-party network of local authorities leading the way on clean energy and community energy, gave both written and oral evidence to the inquiry. The report draws directly on that evidence, including from Councillor Emily O'Brien, Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature and Food Systems at Lewes District Council, Leader of the new Green Group at the Local Government Association, and a graduate of UK100's Climate Leadership Academy, who appeared before the inquiry on the network's behalf.

The report echoes three of UK100's central asks:

• A national framework for local energy planning, backed by proper funding for local authorities. The Committee recommends stronger coordination between national and local energy planning, and that "the government should allocate greater funding for dedicated roles within local authorities." It notes that UK100 told MPs "a national framework could help align local authorities' practices and empower them to take actions and partner with community organisations," adding that giving councils a strategic role "may also require dedicated non-competitive funding and technical support for them to develop and implement" local area energy plans.
• Further changes to the planning system to support community ownership: The report recommends National Planning Policy Framework reform later this year to make community ownership a material consideration when local planning authorities are deciding on new renewable energy schemes.
• A real community stake in local projects. The Committee recommends the Government use existing powers in the 2015 Infrastructure Act to give communities the right to buy a 20% stake in renewable projects in their area at a fair price, and to lift the minimum stake developers must offer from 5% to 20%.

Giving evidence, Cllr Emily O'Brien told MPs that shared ownership would be "quite game changing, and will see that scaling up going on," and that "one of the asks of UK100 is around having proper funding for local authorities" to deliver local energy plans.

The report also backs further UK100 asks, including changes to planning rules so community benefits and community ownership can count in planning decisions.

Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, said: "Local energy is the most secure energy, but it’s only right that the communities that host the infrastructure share in the profits, not just the disruption. This report sends a clear message that bolstering Britain's energy independence requires giving people a genuine stake in clean energy.

"Our members have said that local authorities are ready to help deliver community energy, but they cannot do it on good will alone. We welcome the Committee's call for a proper national framework for local energy planning, with dedicated funding, and for communities to be offered a real share in the projects on their doorstep.

"Ministers now have the chance to act. The Energy Independence Bill is the moment to turn these recommendations into law, plugging the remaining gaps in the system. Let's make sure every community, in every part of the country, feels the benefit of the clean energy security era."

ENDS

More information: Liam Ward, Communications and Advocacy Manager, UK100: liam.ward@uk100.org