Working class voices in County Durham’s former pit communities call for renewable hope
A NEW citizens’ manifesto, drawn up by County Durham folk, has called for communities to be put at the heart of a fair transition to the renewable-energy era.
The Durham Energy Manifesto has been put together by local volunteers aged between 18 and 85 from former mining communities, who have learned about and discussed the green transition over the past 18 months.
And now the document is being sent to the top 100 people in the North East shaping energy development, calling for the green transition to be done with communities, rather than to them.
Adam Cooper, director of Threads in the Ground, the charity which put together the 30-strong Durham Energy Council, which produced the manifesto, said: “The North East is leading the renewable energy transition, and a just transition means ensuring working-class voices help shape what comes next.
“This is an opportunity to learn from the collapse of Britain’s coal industry, which devastated our communities, in order not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
“Former miners, workers, and the local community must be consulted so they are not left behind.
“This new industry is a unique chance to rebuild social connections and community. With the right foundations, extraordinary achievements are possible.”
The manifesto was launched at Redhills, the famous ‘Pitman’s Parliament’ in Durham, earlier this month, and its creators hope it will mark the start of a shift in policy towards putting people and communities at the heart of the energy transition.
Guided by the principles of “being good ancestors” and learning from the region’s industrial heritage, the manifesto calls for:
Good-quality green jobs and accessible training
A future-proofed energy system built on secure, sustainable power
Government support to ensure no communities are left behind
Legally binding Citizens’ Assemblies on energy policy
Trusted and transparent information about climate progress
The citizens, who studied the energy sector for more than a year and discussed the messages they wanted to send from their communities, are hoping those in power will take notice of their demands and focus on helping as many people as possible benefit from the shift to clean energy.
Alison Paterson, the daughter and granddaughter of miners, who runs Blackhall Community Centre and also sits on the Council, said: “The people of Blackhall, and so many other former pit villages, know what a bad transition looks like because our communities suffered through it when the pits closed and no plans were made for the people and the communities left behind.
“This time, we want it to be different as the world does the right thing and switches to renewables to combat climate change.
“This time, though, we want the energy transition to be done with us, not just ‘to’ us.”
“This manifesto is about ensuring that, as we move towards cleaner energy, ordinary people are not ignored.
“We want a transition that creates opportunities, protects communities and gives future generations a fairer, safer world.”
Participants on the Durham Energy Council are from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, from students to pensioners, workers to non-workers, united by a willingness to listen, learn and help shape a better future for generations to come.
Its goal is to ensure working-class voices have a meaningful voice in the UK’s renewable energy transition and help ensure the economic benefits of the shift to renewables stay local.
It is expected that 25,000 new energy jobs will be created by 2035, with as many as 460 new turbines created just off the North East coast.
The Durham Energy Manifesto, sealed with coal dust, is being sent to the North East’s 100 Top Energy Influencers – the people currently shaping our energy transition.
Inspired by Durham's historic Pitman's Parliament, the Council took part in workshops and field trips to learn about energy systems and inform and develop the manifesto.
Josh Petre, 19, who sits on the Council, said: “I have learnt a lot - for example, Durham University students on innovations in solar power.
“This energy transition could create exciting jobs, training and a future for former coal mining communities.”
Key influencers on the list who will receive the manifesto include political figures such as the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, and Sam Rushworth MP, industry leaders including the Chief Executive of Offshore Energies UK, David Whitehouse, and Vice President of UK Renewables, Equinor, Halfdan Brustad. It also includes Claire Lund, Chief Sustainability Officer at the National Grid.
Also on the list are academics, including Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University, and community energy activists, with figures from East Durham Trust and charities such as National Energy Action. Other key figures include leaders from cultural organisations, such as Beamish Museum’s CEO, Rhiannon Hiles.
The manifesto references the historic role of Durham miners and the Pitman’s Parliament at Redhills, arguing that the North East must once again play a leading role in national energy conversations.