Neil Swannick Member of Manchester City Council Committee of the Regions

1. Local and regional renewable energy investment 2020 and beyond: the need for a level playing fieldEU Sustainable Energy Week 2013 Neil Swannick Member of Manchester City Council Committee of the Regions

2. Europe 2020 vision • 20% CO2 reduction – CoR opinion 2008 identified local action as essential Covenant of Mayors now includes 5000 cities and regions • 20% energy reduction – CoR opinions 2011/12/ &13 energy/resource efficiency • 20% renewable energy – CoR opinions Cappellacci, Stepien, de Vey Mestdagh 2012 &13 88-2012, 2182-2012, 595-2013

3. CoR setting the agenda ! (1) “Transforming the energy system is not only a responsibility towards future generations, but also represents a real opportunity for Europe in terms of growth, development, jobs, competitiveness and increasing energy independence” CoR opinion on Energy Roadmap 2050 88-2012 point 1

4. CoR setting the agenda! (2) • aiming at the possibility of 100% renewable energy by 2050 2182-2012 point 8 • currently on track to reach 20%.. by 2020 – EU should be more ambitious and set at least a 20% target for each Member State 2182-2012 point 8 • a technology-neutral approach is unsuitable 88-2012 point 4

5. CoR setting the agenda! (3) • is critical of the causal relationship between decarbonisation and nuclear energy..and of the assumption that nuclear energy contributes to lower system costs and electricity prices 88-2012 point 22 • make sure that “unconventional” and other forms of energy which may appear as alternatives, but which are not renewable..do not divert attention and resources from..RES2182-2012 point 40

6. CoR setting the agenda! (4) • In order to level the playing field, it will be necessary to progressively phase out direct and/or hidden subsidies for fossil fuel and nuclear generation. 595-2012 point 7 • recommends improving the carbon quota trading system by fundamentally changing the procedure for the free allocation of quotas, which in its current form runs counter to the objective of ETS 88-2012 point 38

7. You can’t do without us! (local and regional authorities) “calls for the role of local and regional authorities to be properly recognised and backed up with adequate resources and capacities as well as suitable governance instruments insofar as they are in the front line, either directly or as partners in local sustainable energy projects or when it comes to planning new infrastructure, granting authorisations, investments, public contracts, production and controlling energy consumption.” 88-2012 point 12

8. What more could we contribute? • the involvement of the regions in promoting renewables and in channelling funds for the promotion of renewables to the regions as well as to the producers of renewable energy 2182-2012 point 28 • establish a pan-European fund to support RES…(and) increase the role of the regions in allocating RES support 2182-2012 point 22

9. Smart grids are local • Research and Development programmes (Framework Programme, Intelligent Energy Europe) should assist industry…Especially, pilot projects at local or regional level could demonstrate the possibilities of smart grids 595-2013 point 31 • emphasises that transparency and participation of citizens and communities in grid planning, development and implementation are critical conditions for public acceptance 595- 2013 point 34

10. Conclusions • Local and regional authorities are essential partners in the transformation of European energy systems • Local and regional authorities are already leading by example, very often ahead of Member States • Removing outdated fossil fuel subsidies will free up cash for investment in renewables and create market confidence.