Energy and Climate Change
Energy Strategy Key Principles
The Energy Strategy has been developed in response to the risks of security of supply, affordability and carbon. It aims to provide an approach that can not only mitigate against and limit the future risks, but also maximise any potential opportunity for the benefit of the County Council and the wider Hampshire community.
The Energy Strategy is based on 8 'key principles'.
Leadership | There is an opportunity for the County Council to use its expertise on energy to represent the Hampshire community and influence the national energy agenda. Ultimately, this could lead to a better quality of life for Hampshire residents. |
Wellbeing | Energy projects in the community can help to improve wellbeing in Hampshire. This could include reducing fuel poverty and building closer relationships with communities. |
Maximising business opportunities | For the County Council, some energy projects will generate enough income to payback the initial investment and could potentially create new sources of income in the longer term. Other business opportunities could include selling expertise on energy to other public bodies. |
Sustainable economic development | Energy projects present an opportunity for communities to generate their own energy, stimulate growth and create local jobs. Localised energy networks, such as District Energy schemes, provide valuable infrastructure and can support local, and sustainable, economic development. |
Enhancing quality of life | This Strategy represents an opportunity to proactively plan for the energy needs of Hampshire in the future. Community power schemes – where communities invest in renewable energy – can increase energy security and improve wellbeing, particularly in rural ‘off-grid’ communities, enhancing the quality of place. |
Increasing energy security | Being energy secure means having a consistent, reliable, and affordable energy supply. Currently, Hampshire largely relies on imported fossil fuels and national grid infrastructure. This approach is not sustainable in the longer term and leaves rural, ‘off-grid’ communities particularly vulnerable to oil price volatility. |
Reducing consumption and increasing energy efficiency | For the County Council, reducing our energy consumption could lead to a lower cost base, increased energy security and lower environmental impact. Improving energy efficiency is one way of reducing consumption and is therefore an important topic for both the County Council and the wider community. |
Carbon reduction | A combination of national legislation and policy is driving an increase in environmental and carbon taxes. Reducing the amount of energy we consume from fossil fuels can reduce carbon emissions and therefore carbon tax bills. |
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