Residents Against Dirty Energy: using energy justice to understand the role of local activism in shaping low-carbon transitions

Figures & data

Figure 1. Location of Plutus’s proposed diesel generation plants in Bristol mapped onto the map of deprivation in the Bristol Deprivation Report 2015.

Table 1. Primary Data Sources.

Position / Occupation	Organisation	Identifier
Founding member Founding member	Residents Against Dirty Energy (RADE)	R1/FG3 R2/FG4
Participants 1-7* (*Individual participants anonymised, organisations identified)	Bristol Energy Network (BEN) – Focus Group Easton Energy Group *RADE (FG3 & FG4), Community Energy Investor, Green party councillorBEN employee	FG1-7*

Table 2. Key Secondary Sources.

Organisation	Years active and description	Source
Residents Against Dirty Energy (RADE) RADE’s member groups Baggator Bristol Somali Forum Easton Energy Group BS2 Greenspace	2015 – Present “Clean Energy, Clean Air. R.A.D.E. is a central rallying point for residents, action groups and organisations concerned about Dirty Energy, and air pollution”	https://radebristol.com/ https://twitter.com/RADEBristol https://baggator.org/ https://bristolsomaliforum.org/ http://www.eastonenergygroup.org/ https://radebristol.com/links/
Bristol Energy Network (BEN)	2010 – Present “Bristol Energy Network is an umbrella organisation for individuals and community groups with an interest in energy in Bristol and the surrounding area […] Our vision is a city where clean, green, affordable energy is delivered to the community by the community”	https://bristolenergynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BEN-Directors-report-2020.docx.pdf
Bristol City Council (BCC)	1973 – Present Local government authority, with executive controlled by directly elected mayor. The local authority has 35 wards with 70 elected councillors.	Accepted battery storage application: http://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=OM7629DNILF00 Rejected diesel generator application: http://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NO0ZY1DNJMK00
Aura Power	2013 – Present “Aura Power is a global developer of renewable energy projects. Founded in 2013, we are headquartered in the UK with regional presence in The Republic of Ireland, Europe, and North America”	https://www.aurapower.com/
Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust	1997 – Present “A resident-led organisation that exists to support residents to achieve positive change for themselves and their community”	https://www.lockleazehub.org.uk/projects/
Plutus PowerGen	2012 – Present “Plutus PowerGen is an AIM listed Cash Shell focused on making an acquisition/acquisitions”	http://plutuspowergenplc.com/home/
Bristol Cable	2014 – Present “The Bristol Cable is an independent media company in Bristol, UK, founded in 2014. It provides local news through independent investigative journalism, in a quarterly print publication and website, both free. The Bristol Cable is a cooperative, owned by its members, who pay a monthly fee”	https://thebristolcable.org/tag/rade/ https://thebristolcable.org/2015/11/inner-city-power-plants/ https://thebristolcable.org/2017/03/plutus-energy-return-diesel-plant-plans/ https://thebristolcable.org/2017/07/plutus-energy-lose-appeal-build-lawrence-hill-power-station/
Bristol Post	1932 – Present “A city/regional five-day-a-week newspaper covering news in the city of Bristol, including stories from the whole of Greater Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire”	https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/green-power-storage-site-built-51468
Bristol 24/7	2009 – Present Bristol24/7 is an independent media outlet and community interest company.	https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/features/say-no-to-polluting-power-farms-in-our-city/ (Emanuel 2015a) https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/fossil-fuel-power-plants-set-to-be-refused/ (Emanuel 2015b)
Totterdown Residents Environmental and Social Action (TRESA)	2005 – Present TRESA (Totterdown Residents Environmental & Social Action) was formed in November 2005 by a small group of Totterdown residents keen to bring together local people for the benefit of the environment we live in and the things we do in it. In May 2008, TRESA became a Community Interest Company.	http://www.tresa.org.uk/48-diesel-generators-next-to-local-nursery-school/
Gresham House	1857 – Present Specialist Asset Management	https://greshamhouse.com/real-assets/new-energy-sustainable-infrastructure/ https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/hazel_capital_bought_as_gresham_house_enters_one_of_the_most_sought_after_m
UK Power Reserve (UKPR)	2010 – Sold in 2018 to “sembcorpenergy”	https://www.inflexion.com/portfolio/uk-power-reserve/ https://www.sembcorpenergy.co.uk/

Emanuel, L. 2015a. “Not in Our City.” Bristol 24/7. Accessed 28 June 2022. https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/features/say-no-to-polluting-power-farms-in-our-city/.

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Emanuel, L. 2015b. “Fossil Fuel Power Plants Set to be Refused.” Bristol 24/7. Accessed 28 June 2022. https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/fossil-fuel-power-plants-set-to-be-refused/.

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