The Local Power Plan (LPP) launched by the UK Government and Great British Energy (GBE) has sparked controversy among local communities. The plan aims to allocate “up to £1 billion” for community-owned clean energy, with a vision of enabling every community to own a local energy project by 2030. However, the plan's implementation faces significant challenges, particularly in Scotland, where communities are already bearing the brunt of energy infrastructure development. The plan's focus on rooftop solar panels on public buildings, rather than addressing the structural inequities in energy distribution, has been criticized for its lack of community wealth-building potential. The author, who runs an energy transition consultancy and lives in a community eager to embrace clean energy, argues that the plan's current form falls short of its goals. The plan's failure to address the gridlock of large developer-led commercial projects and its misuse of the term “community wealth building” have left the author skeptical about its effectiveness. The plan's potential to deliver meaningful local power is uncertain, and the author questions whether it is too late to make a meaningful impact.
