More than 1,000 new low-carbon jobs will be created and emissions slashed under an ambitious new energy strategy being unveiled for the region.
The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership says its new 10-year energy plan will also see half of the region’s electricity produced by renewable sources by 2030, a national pilot scheme developed for overcoming disruption to the National Grid and fuel poverty cut to below ten per cent.
Key points in the blueprint include:
- The creation of 1,000 new jobs in the low carbon and renewable energy sector across the region by 2030
- Developing a pilot project to overcome National Grid constraints which will be used as a national demonstrator
- Continuing to be a national leader in the deployment of anaerobic digestion
- Carbon emissions, excluding agriculture, to be cut by 57 per cent from 1990 levels in line with UK targets
- Reducing fuel poverty below 10 per cent
- Renewable electricity to meet 50 per cent of local demand by 2030
- To develop the region as a national centre of innovation in agriculture and low carbon transition
Graham Wynn, Marches LEP chairman, said: “We can only continue to grow our economy and create the sort of high-skilled high-pay jobs we all want for the region if we get our energy provision right,
“The Marches is an area with ambitious growth plans – we want to create 58,700 new jobs and 54,400 new homes over the next 20 years – and energy is a vital component in making sure we can meet those targets.
“The current energy infrastructure is already at capacity in many areas and while this is a threat to plans it is also an opportunity for us to invest in innovative solutions which also meet some of the environmental challenges facing us all.
“This strategy sets a clear path to both growing our economy and responding to the threat of climate change for the generations to come.”