Penny Sharpe’s Post

"We support clients across the public sector in identifying and bringing forward renewable energy schemes in their area" Jo Wall, Climate Response Find out how we've been working with authorities to help their communities in shaping a decent community benefit package and working out how that money might be effectively used to bring forward other projects in their area. This has included net zero projects, decarbonising people's homes, flood alleviation, supporting young people through training and anything else to support the local economy - all in our new Impact Report 2023 -2024 >>> https://lnkd.in/dw6xNNu6 Local Partnerships support organisations with emissions reduction work including carbon accounting, planning pathways to Net Zero, development of project business cases, building retrofit work, fleet transition and generation of renewable energy. Can we help? Do you have a project you would like help with, or could we answer a question about our services? Please don't hesitate to get in touch. Contact us via this page or use any of the contact forms spread across our website >>> https://lnkd.in/dCMFZEyg #PublicSectorSupport #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction #NetZero #Decarbonization #FloodAlleviation #YouthTraining #LocalEconomy #CommunityBenefit #SustainableFuture #ImpactReport #ClimateResponse #EnergyTransition #CarbonReduction #BuildingRetrofit #FleetTransition #RenewableProjects #LocalPartnerships #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableProjects #ContactUs Rutland County Council, Lincolnshire County Council South Kesteven District Council SKDC Central Bedfordshire Council Cardiff Council Morriston Hospital Rachel Toresen-Owuor, MEI Vicky Kingston Adele Gritten Keith Fraser

Aquatic centres are often the largest energy consuming assets for local councils. But technologies exist today to significantly reduce the amount of energy needed - lowering emissions, reducing costs and meaning more money available to put into other local services. Check out this article in Council Magazine https://lnkd.in/grr6FfMv #energyproductivity #councils And for more information, upcoming webinars , case studies and Government grants try - https://lnkd.in/gs4mjYg2 Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) Laura Taylor Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sydney Australian Local Government Association Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

As one of the sunniest and windiest countries in the world with vast manufacturing know-how and experience scaling up new industries, Australia has the opportunity to become a clean economy powerhouse. While much of the detail in the Future Made in Australia Act remains to be seen, this new Act is a huge step towards unlocking our potential, according to Energy Specialist and Climate Council Fellow Dr. Madeline Taylor.

QCC Newsletter Dear friends of the environment, We urgently need to build more solar, wind and storage to get off polluting fossil fuels and protect our precious biodiversity from the devastating impacts of climate change. But right now, Queensland's outdated planning laws mean that some renewable energy projects are being proposed in areas where no development should be allowed. To give our ecosystems and precious biodiversity the best chance at thriving we need to win an urgent, but vitally, well-planned energy transformation where renewable energy projects are sited in the right places. Can you make a moment to email Minister Scanlon, calling for the urgent release of the strengthened wind code for better protections for communities, cultural heritage and nature? EMAIL MINISTER SCANLON TODAY https://lnkd.in/ge2wzric Can you email Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon today? We’re calling for stronger nature protection measures, as well as better community and First Nations engagement in the energy transition. Queensland’s legislated renewable energy targets mean that we’re seeing strong investor interest in the Sunshine State and we’re on the right pathway to meet our emissions reduction goals in the energy sector. The momentum is there, now it’s up to us to make sure that the transition is delivered in the best possible way so everything in Queensland—from our wildlife and communities—benefits from the renewable roll out. Thank you for taking action. Yours in conservation, Steph Gray Senior Renewables Campaigner https://lnkd.in/gCF3p3Bg #QCC @qldconservation #environment #environmental

The "single biggest challenge for delivering renewable energy projects" in Australia are assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act according to a new report from the Clean Energy Investor Group and law firm Herbert Smith Freehills The report coincides with a decision to decline a developer who had planned to clear more than 500 hectares of native vegetation next to the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. I disagree with the report, you can't solve climate change by destroying nature. I understand the desire to build projects on uncleared land stems from not wanting to upset local communities or farmers but it is not the solution. The same ludicrous transmission costs will still need to be applied to the projects resulting in much higher cost of electricity. Why aren’t we focusing on putting generation, storage and usage in the same location as much as possible? There are millions of commercial and industrial properties throughout Australia that use significant amounts of energy but don’t have rooftop solar and batteries. Probably the smartest place to start the green transition 😉 Monday morning rant over 😂 #renewableenergy #energy #solar #bess #battery #energystorage #solarpower #sustainability

Australia’s renewable energy future is facing significant hurdles, with no new wind projects reaching financial close in 2023. Delays in project approvals are not only impacting our climate targets but also jobs and investment. While 1.5 gigawatts of capacity made progress in early 2024, the Clean Energy Council warns that bureaucratic delays are slowing the nation's transition to cleaner energy. The biggest threats to wildlife, like the Brolga, are not wind farms – they are issues like wetland degradation and fox predation. Yet, despite developers' efforts to restore habitats, project approvals are still restricted to narrow criteria. This not only slows down vital projects but also hampers our ability to protect these species effectively. The Clean Energy Investor Group has called for streamlined national environmental standards to speed up approvals while ensuring better environmental outcomes. With renewable energy at the heart of Australia's climate goals, we need more efficient processes that work for both the environment and our future energy needs. #renewableenergy #sustainability #australia #energytransition #cleanenergy #climateaction #biodiversity #environmentalreform #evoegy

Dundee is taking bold steps towards a greener, more sustainable future with its newly approved Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) 🌍⚡. Led by the Dundee Climate Leadership Group (DCLG), this plan sets out how the city will revolutionise its energy system and achieve ambitious decarbonisation goals 💡 With a focus on innovation and accessibility, the LAEP outlines key actions including: • 🏡 Retrofitting 50,000 homes by 2033 and 20,000 more by 2045 for enhanced energy efficiency • 🔥 Decarbonising heat with heat pumps and heat networks, meeting a third of the city’s heating needs  • 🚶♂️ Promoting low-carbon transport by reducing demand and improving walking and cycling routes • 🌞 Expanding solar power by maximising PV installations across the public and private sectors • ⚡ Boosting energy resilience with better grid management and flexibility measures Dundee is not just tackling the climate crisis—it’s developing solutions that benefit communities, reduce energy demand, and attracts investment. This collaborative effort between public and private partners is shaping a Net Zero future for the city 🌱 You can read more about the LAEP here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eg6BqxZv #SustainableDundee #WeLoveDundee

In 2019, the Irish government declared the twinned biodiversity and climate emergency and later pledged in the Climate Action Plan 2021 that 80% of the State’s electricity needs are to be sourced from renewable energy by the year 2030. In light of this declaration, EirGrid took immediate action to reassess its own goals and has accelerated its plan of action towards cleaner energy, while embedding nature restoration at the forefront of its projects ⚡ 🌍 Robert Fennelly, Lead Senior Ecologist, EirGrid explains: "There is no legal requirement for Irish infrastructure projects to deliver ‘No Net Loss’ or, even better ‘Net Biodiversity Gain’, but this is our ambition on every project. The response to the twinned biodiversity and climate crises requires urgent action at every level of industry and wider society. EirGrid can and will direct more resources and strive to further accelerate its action to deliver nature restoration as we decarbonise the grid.” ℹ️ Read more about how we're putting the environment first. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gSYuGP7f #Biodiversity #Sustainability #ElectricityGrid #Renewables #ClimateAction #Decarbonisation #NetZero

My doctoral research was along these lines - looking for global scale green zones - and was published here: https://lnkd.in/eqRr8WrH. TL;DR at that scale it's inconceivable that there needs to be any conflict at all. If native vegetation is being cleared for utility-scale solar that is absolute madness; there are so many other ways to scale renewable capacity. EU renewable acceleration areas are a good example of what is required: they encourage Member States to prioritise artificial/already degraded land and avoid protected or sensitive areas as identified by appropriate mapping tools (cough, Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)).

#ICYMI: The EPA awarded $4.3. billion in funding to help states and municipalities advance climate initiatives to reduce pollution, spur economic growth, and create local jobs in communities across the country. Here are some of the programs we're excited to see get off the ground:    The Colorado Decarbonization Accelerator will implement projects aimed at tackling climate pollution across multiple sectors including buildings, clean power, industry, transportation, and waste.   https://lnkd.in/drdH5q2N    The New England Heat Pump Accelerator will fund projects in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island to rapidly accelerate the adoption of heat pumps in more than 500,000 single-family and multifamily residential buildings.  https://lnkd.in/dHqGnBPz    Illinois will fund measures focused on building and industry decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy deployment. https://lnkd.in/d-9xQXHN    Michigan will use its grant to accelerate siting, zoning, and permitting of renewable energy to help spur the adoption of renewable energy at the scale and pace needed to reach Michigan's newly passed 100% clean energy law.   https://lnkd.in/dxc2eMyX    The Minnesota Climate-Smart Food Systems project will focus on food system decarbonization to improve public health and well-being.  https://lnkd.in/dZAX6vEt    New Jersey, in partnership with Connecticut, Delaware, and Maine will build out a medium and heavy-duty charging corridor along Interstate 95 through the Clean Corridor Coalition.   https://lnkd.in/dheRHb-3    The Atlantic Conservation Coalition is a regional approach among North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia to achieve carbon sequestration of coastal, wetlands, peatlands, forest, and urban forests  https://lnkd.in/enrTsrPY    Oregon will work to reduce climate pollution from multiple sectors including buildings, transportation, and waste. https://lnkd.in/gwn9epkG    The RISE-PA grant will reduce climate pollution in the industrial sector through a competitive grants program and incentives for small-, medium-, and large-scale decarbonization projects. https://lnkd.in/dcnZZixF    Virginia's Priority Methane Reduction Projects grant will help reduce methane pollution by establishing a competitive grant program for projects at coal mines and landfills.  https://lnkd.in/dNTiT3qe