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APSE held a strategic forum on the Environment and Sustainability in Southampton today, chaired by Cllr Richard Williams.
Dr Alan Whitehead M.P. the Chair of the House of Commons all party group PRASEG - The Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group spoke at the forum on initiatives around decentralised renewable energy schemes focusing in particular on the UTILICOM Geo-thermal district heating, power and cooling initiative in Southampton. Which delegates got a tour around.
He concentrated very much on the fact that the economics of energy was tilting towards local solutions and a much bigger role for local authorities. Utilicom is a great example of municipal enterprise which is expanding the delivery of local heating and power across Southampton. There are other schemes underway in Eastleigh and in Birmingham but the Southampton public private partnership has been in existence since the 1980’s. Could this be a new age of municipal enterprise addressing the needs of our communities. Alan was interested in our research programme and gave him copies of towards a future for public employment and the work on governance and neighbourhoods. Alan will have a role in drafting labour’s manifesto for local government, so this proved a good opportunity to showcase the work that APSE is currently doing.
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