The Oldham Net-Zero Accelerator (ONZA) is a collaborative initiative between Carbon Co-op and Oldham Council that aims to accelerate the borough’s journey towards a net-zero future. The project seeks to integrate community wealth-building principles into the governance and procurement processes of the Oldham Green New Deal Delivery Partnership (OGNDDP) while developing and refining a Community-Led Energy Planning (CLEP) 2.0 framework, building on the CLEP approach piloted in Carbon Co-op’s Oldham Energy Futures programme.
The CLEP 2.0 framework will actively engage communities across Oldham in the borough’s energy transition, ensuring that local residents and their needs play a key role in shaping the journey to net zero. Over a 21-month period, from June 2024 to March 2026, the project will conduct research, establish partnerships with key stakeholders, and pilot the CLEP 2.0 process in three selected wards. The insights and outcomes from these pilots will guide the broader adoption of the CLEP 2.0 approach across Oldham and resulting in a replicable toolkit and methodology that can be used beyond the borough.
The project will promote low/zero carbon energy projects, foster community participation, and ensure that the energy transition provides local social, economic environmental benefits. This work is fully funded by Oldham Council and supports the council’s ambitions for a just and equitable energy transition of the borough to net-zero by 2030.