Energy and Climate Change

Strategy, Aim and Objectives

The Strategy

Hampshire County Council is a top performing authority that responds to risks proactively by taking challenging decisions and implementing innovative solutions. It is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of its community.

It is accepted that the key risks outlined in this Strategy are significant and as such, in the longer term, the lack of a coherent Strategy on energy would be unsustainable. The issues of security of supply, affordability and other costs associated with using fossil/carbon-based fuels (e.g. the CRC) are strategically important and require some level of response.

This Strategy sets out the response that the County Council will be taking to minimise the energy risks of security of supply, affordability and carbon emissions, and to take advantage of the opportunities to support the development of a low carbon economy in Hampshire.

The response in this Strategy lies between the parameters of a basic response limited to good housekeeping of the County Council’s corporate (non-schools) estate and a fully-integrated and ambitious response delivering a low carbon energy Hampshire.

The Strategy will be delivered through 4-yearly Action Plans. Each Action Plan will be monitored and reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the aims of the Strategy are being met.

Each Action Plan will contain:

  • A phased programme of actions to achieve the objectives of the Energy Strategy;

  • Qualitative and quantitative targets to measure the effectiveness of actions; and,

  • A suggested programme of actions to build on current projects and carry forward into the next Action Plan period.

As part of the Energy Strategy, the County Council will need to consider how it maximises energy opportunities across its estate, including using its freehold, tenanted and leased buildings in innovative ways, for example, using land and buildings to house energy centres that would otherwise be disposed of or remain vacant.  

The County Council will need to consider the opportunity to establish and utilise innovative legal and financial structures such as Energy Services Companies (ESCos) to deliver energy projects. This will include investigating how such structures could help to mitigate risk and maximise project specific-opportunities such as investing in energy infrastructure.

Aim

For Hampshire County Council to provide community leadership for resilience to the risks of energy security, affordability and carbon emissions and, contribute to a sustainable low carbon economy in Hampshire.

Objectives

To reduce energy consumption and increase the efficiency of energy use in the County Council and in the community of Hampshire by:

  • Delivering energy reduction and efficiency programmes for the County Council’s corporate estate;

  • Developing and supporting energy efficiency programmes for the community of Hampshire including partners and schools;

  • Leading the development of and supporting initiatives which help improve the way Hampshire uses energy; and,

  • Working in partnership with the public and private sector.

To invest in local energy projects which collectively support the key principles behind the Energy Strategy including initiatives which:

  • Safeguard the health and wellbeing of Hampshire residents;

  • Foster economic development through sustainable local energy generation;

  • Increase energy security, improve local resilience, reduce Hampshire’s reliance on imported fossil fuels; and/or,

  • Reduce the County Council’s exposure to carbon tax liabilities.

  • Maximise business opportunities for the County Council and increase revenue;

To integrate energy generation and infrastructure into place shaping by:

  • Supporting the development of common Local Plans approaches and interpretation of these policies across Hampshire local planning authorities.

  • Recognising the importance of local energy generation in future decisions on waste management.

  • Considering the role of Hampshire County Council-owned land in energy generation.  

To facilitate community access to secure, affordable and/or low-carbon renewable energy and energy services by:

  • Developing and supporting initiatives which could reduce the cost of energy to domestic and non-domestic consumers; and,

  • Increasing the energy options available to urban and rural communities, recognising specific issues, such as, reducing dependence on high-cost, high carbon fuels such as LPG and fuel oil.

  • Providing an information hub to support private and community initiatives on energy.