30 Durham Citizens
exploring and shaping
what our energy system could be
We are bringing together a group of people from across County Durham to become Durham Energy Councilors.
The Councilors will work with a writer-in-residence to create the Durham Energy Manifesto - a powerful document which will be read and heard by policymakers, politicians, and industry leaders across our region and nationally.
Join the council. Awaken your power.
What do you mean, energy system?
How we live costs energy.
Our energy system captures, makes, and distributes energy across the UK.
Whether it's simple stuff like keeping warm, cooking food, or charging your phone.
Or the more abstract stuff - the greenhouses where our bananas get grown, when you get on a train, or the factories smelting steel.
All of it costs energy - lots of energy that has to be captured or made and moved about, constantly.
We used to burn wood.
Then we burned charcoal.
Then we mined coal.
Then we drilled for oil and gas.
Then we split the atom.
Now we build farms for wind and sun.
What’s next?
Our energy system took hundreds of years to build. And it’s all really complicated.
There’s enough electrical cabling in UK houses to stretch to Mars and back.
And whatever you think about climate change, net zero, or anything else - our energy system will transform within our lifetimes.
It’s progress - massive complicated things don’t stay the same.
We need energy, and we need to work out the best ways of capturing and distributing it.
But how are decisions made about our energy system? And who's making them?
What technology do we go with? And what are the trade-offs?
Who gets to build it and where?
Who pays for those facilities?
Who gets to earn money off it?
Who makes these decisions? And how?
Doesn’t it all leave you feeling more than a little curious?
What is the Durham Energy Council?
Durham used to be a centre of power in the UK.
At Redhills, the Pitman’s Parliament, representatives from each pit village would come to explore and debate policy and law. Durham folk were shaping the energy system that we have inherited today.
What would it be like to reawaken that heritage?
The Durham Energy Council is made up of 30 regular people from around County Durham.
They will take part in workshops and discussions about the UK energy system.
The Councilors will take part in half-day workshops where they will learn about our energy system. About what our energy system looks like, how it got to be the way it is, the ways it's changing, and how it could look in the future.
The Councilors will go through a series of conversations and workshops together, getting immersed in these ideas, working out and testing their opinions with each other.
They’ll then work with a writer to say what they would like to see happening.
The writer will create a “Durham Energy Manifesto”.
Honestly, we don’t know yet what a Durham Energy Manifesto is. We’re going to find out, together, with the Energy Council. But we know it could be important and powerful. We want to publish it and share it with politicians, industry leaders, academics, and the public across the North East and nationally. To amplify the voices and ideas of regular Durham folk about the future of our energy.
Thinking About Ancestry
We’re trying something very different with the Durham Energy Council. We’re thinking about ancestry.
15 of the Councilors will be asked to represent the interests of those born before 1950 (our ancestors)
15 of the Councilors will be asked to represent the interests of those who will be born after 2050 (our grandchildren)
Why would we do that?
Our energy system has grown and sprawled over 100s of years.
It’s almost a living thing, too complicated for anyone to understand fully.
What it becomes and how it works is part of our heritage, and the inheritance of those people who have not yet been born.
We think that we’ll be able to do some really interesting and powerful thinking together if we put ourselves in these ancestral roles.
Who is this opportunity for?
If you are unsure whether someone like you is welcome to join this, contact Alison: 0796 207 1966
She’ll likely encourage you to get involved.
Who you are
You live in County Durham
You are any age between 18 - 150 years old
You are any background of class, education, etc
You’re available to join the 4 workshop sessions, which are early evening weekdays at Blackhall Community Centre
What you’re like
You probably first thought “is this meant for someone like me?”
You feel excited about being involved
You’re very good at listening, asking questions, talking things through
You’re a curious person, who likes learning new things
You’re willing to accept the world is really complicated, that there aren’t easy answers to big problems
Sceptics welcome
Maybe you don’t like “Net Zero”, and you think there’s too much growth of green energy. Or maybe you are green to your bones and want to ban nuclear. Either way is fine. Either way, you’re not alone, and you could be right.
Scepticism is welcome…but it's essential you can come with an open mind that’s ready to move and change with the discussion.
Who it’s probably not for…
The project is for people who otherwise never really get the opportunity to learn about and shape this kind of huge, complicated, important policy stuff.
So, it’s not so much for people used to being heard, people who get lots of air-space to say what they think about things, or who have more than your usual bit of power in society. So, we’re probably less interested in academics, doctors, senior management…hopefully you get what we mean?
It’s also not a space to come and dominate or dismiss. It’ll be a space for listening, thoughtfulness and conversation.