Mendip appoints Carter Jonas to find energy investments

Mendip District Council has selected Carter Jonas to help the local authority seek new energy investment opportunities.

Carter Jonas’s energy team is appointed on an initial contract of two years.

Its experts will identify energy investment opportunities across a range of technologies, geographic locations, use classes and sizes.

According to the council, the aim of the investments is to help drive commercial return and help support the delivery of its climate emergency objectives across the council and the district.

In September, the council launched a procurement process seeking an experienced consultant to advise on energy projects that protect the authority’s medium-to-long-term financial position and enable it to meet its strategy as set out in its corporate plan.

The local authority’s corporate pan, adopted in February, aims to build a fairer, greener, and more vibrant Mendip that values its distinctive towns and rural communities.

‘This is an exciting opportunity for Mendip, offering the council the chance to deliver on its climate and ecological commitments,’ said deputy council leader, Cllr Barry O’Leary.

‘This investment allows us to improve our position in investing in a fairer and more balanced manner. Ultimately allowing Mendip to move away from bricks and mortar and into all the things that are useful in life, thus making Mendip a far more equal district.’

Greg Hilton, partner and energy specialist, Carter Jonas, said: ‘This important project will complement the significant steps Mendip District Council has already taken to deliver on its corporate plan.

‘Increasingly, green energy investments are proving a valuable tool in helping authorities improve their financial resilience whilst meeting sustainability objectives,’ added Mr Hilton.

‘Building on our experience in supporting local authorities delivering energy sector innovation programmes, we are well placed to identify low-carbon projects including solar, wind and anaerobic digestion technologies. We look forward to working with Mendip District Council on its forward-thinking approach to investment and renewable energy.’