Abstract
National and local energy policies are implemented within a complex energy landscape that makes any evaluation of their impacts far from straightforward. Drawing upon a case study of Leicester this paper argues that the ability of local authorities to deliver significant energy savings within this landscape is questionable, albeit with other additional benefits being realised (e.g. job creation, community engagement). It examines existing domestic energy demand and multiple deprivation data for Leicester and neighbouring cities and combines this with a qualitative description of the transition process. The paper identifies the need for a more systematic analysis of how national energy policy translates to the local level and concludes that it is problematic even for a leading, pro-active and innovative local authority to have a statistically meaningful energy policy. Even where energy policies are favourable, carbon reduction is less easy to realise than other – more local - co-benefits and that in the light of significant financial and co-ordination constraints more attention needs to be given to how local communities can be more effectively supported in their desire to meet (or exceed) national targets.
Highlights
In their analysis of energy transition, Verbong and Geels [1] are critical of attempts to link the low take up of renewable electricity options to policy and of failures to adequately recognise the importance of the wide range of actors outside of policy makers
The specific goals of the paper are: to explore, quantitatively and with a focus on domestic energy use, the impact that energy initiatives are having on total energy consumption; to present a qualitative picture of the local factors; and to summarise the network of agents who have been involved in that transition at the local level
The extent to which national government was interested in collecting more detailed data that might be available to local authorities was not obvious, the reverse was true, in that it was not clear that Leicester City Council (LCC) were aware that detailed statistics which they could have been using to monitor their performance were available
Summary
In their analysis of energy transition, Verbong and Geels [1] are critical of attempts to link the low take up of renewable electricity options to policy and of failures to adequately recognise the importance of the wide range of actors outside of policy makers. More recently Simmie [2] argues that energy pathways invariably emerge through incremental improvements to existing technologies and innovations in how those technologies might be integrated, and or, used in new ways. The following paper will consider how these complex landscapes determine the ability of UK energy policy to reach down to the local level and, concurrently for local initiatives to respond to national policy. It is framed around a case study of one urban centre, the City of Leicester, which has been selected due to its reputation in sustainability, energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
