On March the 31st I wrote an article for Co-op Press about how vulnerable our energy system is vulnerable to external shocks with a big part of the solution needing to be co-operative renewable energy. I’ve worked in the energy industry for 15 years within the funded insulation and renewable sector as well as being a director of Community Energy Birmingham. The main themes of the article are;

• I write about how our energy system was originally designed for coal and gas. As coal has been phased out we have become more reliant on imported gas
• I write about three shocks; Covid in 2020, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
• Co-operatives can bring delocalised energy that is owned by those that benefit it and help us achieve net zero.
• We need to do energy differently. Relying on imported gas will keep us vulnerable to price rises over events outside of our control.

I am a director of Co-op Press as well as being a journalist for them. Co-op News covers the co-operative sector from large retail co-ops to international co-ops. Co-op Press is a co-operative and both individuals and co-operatives can become members. Becoming a member supports Co-operative journalism