Local Power for Local People

Local Power for Local People was proposed by Green Party Councillor Tessa Lupton (Ecclesall) and seconded by Councillor Ruth Abbey (Manor Castle) at last week’s Council meeting.

The motion commits Sheffield to

*expand the successful climate bond scheme,

*accelerate renewable energy projects, especially solar panels on schools to reduce bills and emissions.

* call on the Government to prioritise community renewables and promote a primetime screening of the National Emergency Briefing.

A move to call on the Mayor to make alternative plans for the Doncaster Airport site, for affordable social housing, built to Passivhaus standards, and a solar farm was, however, defeated.

Councillor Lupton was making her maiden speech in the Council. She said

“Producing power locally from renewable sources is the common sense thing to do, the green thing to do and the right thing to do. It will help with the cost of living crisis, provide secure energy sources, and help our planet. We’ve got to fight for our children’s future. And after a summer of blazing heat waves, drought, and wildfires, it’s absolutely unthinkable to take more fossil fuels from under the sea and out of the earth. This summer, my 10-year-old daughter saw the wildfires on the news and was in tears over what the future would hold for her. We must protect our children’s futures and our planet and do better than previous generations because now there’s no excuse. We have the science, and the evidence tells us that climate change is man-made. It’s real, and it’s here now. I, for one, want to tell my children that I’ve done everything in my power to help save our planet.”

Cllr Ruth Abbey, who was also making her maiden speech, seconded the motion, saying, “Climate scientists tell us that the weather we have now is the least extreme it will ever be. From now on, it gets worse. So, we need to act now. The climate emergency threatens our health, our homes, and our food supply. In Manor Castle, which I’m very proud to represent, this has led to fires burning repeatedly across our green spaces this summer.”

If you haven’t seen the People’s Emergency Briefing film yet, please go to a screening.  Coming up soon are St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane (14th Nov), Sheffield Business Runners (17th Nov), All Saints Ecclesall (18th Nov). See  https://www.nebriefing.org/screening-map to get tickets.