07. 03.10:
INTELLIGENT ENERGY EUROPE: LOCAL ENERGY LEADERSHIP
The IEE Programme organised its annual Information Day in Brussels on 3 February where the 2010 Work Programme was unveiled. As well as the familiar energy efficiency (SAVE), transport (STEER), and renewables (ALTERNER) focuses, local energy issues are being given a renewed emphasis this year as part of the 'Integrated Initiatives' component of the programme.
EUR6.7 million is being set aside for 'Local Energy Leadership' actions to support large-scale networking and capacity-building activities among national and international networks of local authorities to improve the stakeholder participation (including elected representatives) in local sustainable energy policy implementation.
Alternatively, local authorities with poorly-development levels of expertise in local energy actions may engage in direct exchange (e.g. one-to-one mentoring) and meaningful capacity-building with more experienced counterpart authorities. The objective should be to operationally institutionalise sustainable energy policies and implement adopted Sustainable Energy Action Plans. Links between old and new Europe are encouraged.
The programme authorities stressed that short to-the-point actions may be acceptable including some minor applied research but that the development of tools and guidelines would no longer be supported as ample examples of these are already available for adaptation. They also underlined that the indicators by which applications would be judged will relate to numbers of local authority staff and target groups concretely impacted by capacity-building or networking activities as well as long-term local level effects arising: jobs created/secured in the energy sector; CO2 reductions; renewable energy capacity installation; and energy savings achieved.
Support will also be available towards the development and implementation of tailor-made long-term financial schemes to improve the energy performance of existing housing. These mechanisms should utilise the possibility of channeling up to 4% of the national ERDF allocation (from the Regional Structural Fund programmes) and operate by combining subsidies and loan arrangements based on public and private resources.
The annual call is expected over the course of the spring with a June deadline
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