A new agreement, facilitated by ICLEI, is set to fast-track renewable energy projects across Europe by addressing one of the biggest hurdles to the deployment of renewables and grids: local opposition. Under the Fast and Fair Renewables & Grids initiative, commercial developers, local governments, civil society, and energy communities have achieved the first European cross-sector consensus to establish shared principles for building renewable energy projects more efficiently and with stronger community support. The principles also seek to empower municipal leaders and staff, especially those in rural areas where a large percentage of the EU’s solar and wind energy is generated - to effectively mediate between competing interests and to mitigate local opposition.

With the EU aiming for 42.5% renewable energy by 2030, Disputes over location, environmental impact, and community benefits have slowed progress, jeopardising EU and national renewable energy goals. The Fast and Fair Renewables & Grids initiative addresses these challenges through baseline principles for fairer energy infrastructure development, such as stakeholder participation, nature positivity, and creating local value through community-driven projects.

Arthur Hinsch, Senior Expert in Sustainable Energy Systems at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, said: “All sides can finally point to commonly agreed principles on what constitutes a fair way to build, hopefully avoiding the complex disputes that have stalled renewable projects for years.” He described the agreement as a "game changer" for the future of Europe’s energy landscape.

Signatories include major interest groups such as Climate Action Network Europe, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the European Environmental Bureau, Energy Cities, the European Renewable Energy Federation, the European Youth Energy Network, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Koop Wind, RESCoop.eu, Solar Power Europe, Wind Europe.

Having been developed collaboratively, and informed by the experiences of municipalities, the principles offer a valuable starting point for stakeholders to accelerate renewable energy efforts, engage a range of interested groups, and achieve outcomes that are seen as fair by all parties involved. Adopting and applying these principles locally will contribute to not only a faster, but also a fairer energy transition.

Explore the principles here.