Up the Energy Campaign

Activation event

We’ve delivered the letter

Community Energy England and a broad coalition of civil society organisations, businesses and public figures working across climate, poverty reduction, community development and local enterprise delivered an open letter on 4 March 2026 to the Government calling for urgent action to unlock the full potential of community energy.

A group of people stand with a letter in front of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

a group of people wearing letters spelling out the word 'Hope' where the map of the UK is in place of the "O" — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

A person stands in front of a sign for Department of Energy Security and Net Zero holding a letter — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

People wear lit up letters spelling out 'Green Up' — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

a group of people wearing lit up letters spelling out 'Up the Energy' stand in front of Big Ben and whitehall — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

a group of people wearing letters spelling out 'Up the Energy' stand in front of Big Ben and whitehall — Image by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), from Community Energy England

Images by Lizzie Goldsack (If Not Now), for Community Energy England

Up the Energy

A national campaign led by Community Energy England and partners

To unlock the full potential of community energy and ensure everyone can play a part in delivering the UK’s Clean Power mission.

The campaign has two core aims:

Influence

The Government’s Local Power Plan is a historic first step – committing £1 billion to community energy. Now it’s time to finish the job and remove the barriers still holding communities back.

Raise awareness

To increase public awareness of what community energy is and why it is so vital to communities across the country.

Our campaign asks

Let’s unleash community power

The Local Power Plan addresses some of our asks – and we welcome that. But critical barriers remain. We’re calling on the UK Government to build on this momentum and deliver the changes still needed to unlock local power and ensure every community can share in the benefits of clean, affordable energy.

Deliver on the Local Power Plan and Warm Homes Plan
Guarantee a fair export price for community-generated electricity
Prioritise community projects in grid connection queues
Support local supply models, public sector purchasing and shared ownership
Provide access to public land and rooftop for community energy

Community Energy England and partners invited public figures and organisations supportive of community energy to sign our open letter, which was delivered to the Government on 4 March 2026 at a special event in Parliament Square.

Over 250 organisations have signed the letter – huge thanks to all of these national leaders for paving the way.

Visit the Up the Energy campaign website