The 15-year partnership has been formed to help transform the city’s approach to carbon reduction whilst helping people save money and boosting the local economy.
Although central government are failing to provide a more sustainable future, in a UK first Coventry City Council and E.ON, one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and infrastructure, announced last week they would be joining forces to build a cleaner and more sustainable city that will create greener jobs and skills for future generations.
‘This is a really exciting and completely innovative. No other city in the country is doing this,’ said Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration, and climate change at Coventry City Council. ‘It will help Coventry move ahead with a range of projects that the council would not have been able to achieve on its own.’
Cllr O’Boyle added: ‘E.ON is based in Coventry and has been for almost 30 years, and it brings expertise, knowledge and skills. The partnership will also bring finance from the private sector so we will be able to quickly move forward on a range of schemes to benefit the city.
‘We are already spearheading a number of major green projects, including the installation of hundreds of electric charging points – the highest number of any city outside of London. We have also developed a state-of-the art new materials recycling facility and we are well on the way to becoming the country’s first all-electric bus city.’
Projects that have been discussed by the two authorities to better the city so far include the creation of a 30MW solar farm, bringing solar power into schools across Coventry and decarbonisation of a number of council vehicles and depots.
Work is also set to include solar energy for public buildings, a push to electrify transport with greater electric vehicle charge point access for locals and improving energy efficiency across homes and businesses – a target the UK government seem to have given up on.
Margot James, chair of the Coventry climate change board, said: ‘I believe that the council is really at the forefront of the drive to carbon zero and there are very few cities that have embraced a true partnership working in the way Coventry has.
‘As chair of the city’s climate change board…I have worked with E.ON and have seen first-hand their commitment to the city. This new partnership will add value to a range of projects being developed in the city and will help to maximise government support – which will benefit communities, the local economy, and help in creating new jobs.’
Consultation for the strategy saw 80% of respondents describe climate change as an important issue, saying they wanted the council to act – especially around the issues of transport and home energy efficiency, which combined are the city’s biggest sources of carbon emissions.
Image: Stuart Frisby
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