Not only is there the strongest of environmental cases; there is a solid economic argument too. Going forward, affordability and reliability will be major priorities for people who consider Leeds to be their home or place of work.
Leeds has stated its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 – decades ahead of national targets. By being bold and investing in regenerative technologies, the city and its leaders have spoken with actions and words, but it will take a joint effort to achieve this across public and private sector. The long-term certainty provided by a district heating network and the decisions taken by public and private sector to capitalise on this low carbon technology mean that connected buildings can be shielded from huge price volatility that has done damage to so many recently. The fact that Leeds deployed this technology early and has been leading the way should be a source of pride for us all.
The Leeds RERF, combined with a district heating network, can champion Leeds’ place at the forefront of the UK’s low-carbon future.