Energy communities are legal entities that empower citizens to take ownership of their local transition projects, from solar panel and wind installations to citizen-led renovations, or shared renewable district heating pipes. Energy communities carry out these projects oftentimes thanks to volunteers, lacking financial resources and overall adequate conditions to do so. Yet energy communities and their citizens add significant value to Europe’s Energy transition all the same. The Citizens Energy Package (CEP) has the potential to be the spark that helps speed up the energy community movement. 

In our response to the European Commission’s consultation, we state that supporting energy communities should be “a foundational pillar” of the CEP. In effect, the CEP should create an Energy Communities Action Plan by proposing and delivering on a distinct set of actions and measures that will ensure Europe’s citizens can reach their potential in taking ownership in the transition to clean, locally-produced renewable energy. At the forefront of delivery, the European Commission should ensure that the CEP assists with the implementation of EU rules designed to create enabling conditions for energy communities to grow and thrive.