ALDE-CoR President: 'We need to stimulate local communities while allowing for tailor-made solutions'

During the ALDE-CoR study visit to Groningen (NL) on regional energy plans, the ALDE PresidentBas Verkerk (NL) sent a clear message of encouragement to the new European Commission Vice President-elect for the Energy Union, Alenka Bratušek, but stressed the need to allow room for manoeuvre to local communities by calling for a clear adherence to subsidiarity: "The European Commission needs to stimulate local communities towards energy transition while at the same time allowing for tailor-made solutions that take into consideration the specifics of each local area." The regional energy plans in northern Netherlands witnessed by the ALDE-CoR delegation on 15 September illustrate how local approaches can contribute to the international ambition for secure, sustainable and clean energy supply.

The Northern Netherlands encompassing the provinces of Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen, is an incubation zone for clean, reliable and innovative energy. Companies, knowledge institutes and government bodies are working in close cooperation to implement specific projects to achieve a future-proof energy economy and to expand the Northern Netherlands into the undisputed Energy Valley for all of Europe. The share of renewable energy in in northern Netherlands has in the recent years increased to 8.4%, whereas the national average is 4.5%. This is thanks to the region's active efforts to save energy and a result of renewable energy production from wind, biogas, green gas, waste incineration installations and biofuels.

Henk Brink, member of the Board of the Province of Drenthe, who hosted the study visit together with Bote Wilpstra, member of the Board of the Province of Groningen, said in his opening remarks that "European regions need to make the move towards a more sustainable energy system. The close co-operation between different levels of government and all other stakeholders to develop the energy system of the future in the Northern Netherlands is a good example of regional collaboration". The delegation also explored the economic impact of energy transition. The energy sector is namely one of the biggest economic sectors in the northern Netherlands. It encompasses more than 4,000 business companies and 32,000 jobs. Henk Van de Boer, Member of the Board of the Province of Drenthe,noted that "in economic terms, energy transition offers us great opportunities. A sustainable energy supply creates economic growth and jobs. It offers opportunities for innovation in the Netherlands in general, and in our region in particular. Our Regional Innovation Strategy, RIS3, has innovation as its central focus in order to cope with major societal challenges. Energy is one of them."

 The study visit included stops in Green gas Hub ATTERO in Wijster where the delegation was welcomed by Marko Kwak, Project Development Manager of Waste to Energy and Erik Koops, representative of AVEBE, followed by Multifuel Gas station Green Planet in Pesse and EnTranCe – a hotspot of applied sciences for businesses and innovations. The ALDE-CoR delegation was joined by ALDE MEP Jan Huitema and former MEP Jan Mulder.

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