2025 Award Finalist: Supportive Local Authority: North Lincolnshire Council

North Lincolnshire Council, together with North Lincolnshire Community Energy (NLCE), has created a fantastic community energy project that is helping local schools and community buildings go solar. With funding, officer support, and legal guidance, the council has helped set up NLCE, install solar panels on 21 sites (and aiming for 30+), and provide education on renewable energy to children and the wider community. The project reduces electricity costs, cuts carbon emissions, and keeps profits local for reinvestment, while inspiring young people with workshops, assemblies, and teacher training. Judges praised it as a “fantastic project” and a “model of collaboration,” showing how a smaller council can authentically support community-led energy, co-develop ambitious local plans, and make a real difference for schools, residents, and the planet.