Organising: Clean energy fund is opportunity for union jobs

The Government has announced a new Clean Industry Bonus to incentivise offshore wind developers to invest in the UK’s industrial heartlands. Arriving at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the fund to incentivise offshore wind developers to invest in sustainable factories in UK’s historic industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas communities.

The CIB will provide £27 million per gigawatt of offshore wind projects, with potential funding of up to £200 million for projects totalling between 7-8 GW. This bonus is designed to accelerate the clean energy transition and reward firms for investing in sustainable, local suppliers in industrial communities across Scotland, Wales, and Northern England.

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, said: “If properly implemented and resourced the Clean Industry Bonus can form part of the integrated strategy Prospect has been calling for to deliver our clean energy goals.

“The primary aim of the policy must be to drive growth in domestic supply chains, delivering high-quality, unionised jobs to the communities that most need them.

“The transition to a low carbon economy is a huge opportunity for the UK, but only if we ensure that investment is directed to support British industry and encourage a just transition of skilled labour into the clean energy sector.”