The local energy cooperative has identified a number of priorities for new policy and action, which politicians should address together with residents, businesses and organisations. This is in line with the municipality's goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050. “Close cooperation with and support from the municipality is crucial to this. Our priorities link vision, policy and action,” says the board of Energiek Alphen.

With the list of priorities presented to the political parties in Alphen on [date], Energiek Alphen is highlighting various opportunities and projects for energy saving in the home and for the collective generation and sharing of energy in communities and neighbourhoods. In this way, the energy cooperative is contributing to raising awareness and changing behaviour among residents and businesses within the municipality.

The Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn list contains six policy priorities:

1. Active energy assistance and reducing energy poverty
   Energy poverty is unacceptable in a wealthy country such as ours, and therefore also in our municipality. Tenants of social and mid-range rental properties are too often deprived of energy assistance, even though such assistance does exist — but it is too fragmented and difficult to find. Energiek Alphen advocates an active municipal approach, such as the structural deployment of Energy Coaches in all neighbourhoods and communities and the referral of residents to this energy assistance, via housing associations, private landlords and neighbourhood teams and in collaboration with civil society organisations (care institutions, associations and churches/mosques). Targeted communication should be used to reach hard-to-reach groups, such as people with a migrant background, single people and dual-income households with incomes around or below the average. These are groups that often fall outside the scope of the schemes, but who are certainly struggling with high energy costs. Energiek Alphen wants to cooperate with campaigns to ensure that everyone has access to a warm, affordable and sustainable home.
2. The municipality purchases sustainable energy from om|nieuwe energie.
   Like several other municipalities in the Netherlands, Alphen aan den Rijn can choose to purchase all its energy (electricity and gas) from the cooperative energy supplier. to|new energy. This can also be done per location. If the local authority places an EAN connection at to|New energy can also be sourced for those locations through self-supply agreements. In that case, the municipality purchases locally produced sustainable energy at a lower price. The municipality also supports local ownership through projects by Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn and Zon op Alphen|to.
3. The council actively supports Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn's energy community approach (Local4Local) to become self-sufficient and reduce grid congestion in the region.
   Energetic Alphen aan den Rijn is running a pilot project with the Benthuizen Village Council and residents: Community in Balance Benthuizen (Glanskern Benthuizen). Studies are also being conducted in other communities. By sharing energy and managing its use intelligently, generated energy can be used locally much more often. Any energy shortfall can be purchased or generated independently via wind turbines or solar installations. These installations are owned by the community, which also makes the decisions. The profits lead to lower energy costs. Other advantages include strengthening the sense of community, less nuisance and less grid congestion.
4. Actively supporting builders/developers for GPR building score 8
   Fortunately, there are several new construction and renovation projects in the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn. The municipality sets requirements for the sustainability of these buildings based on the Municipal Practice Guideline (GPR). GPR Building is the tool for making coherent sustainability choices in the construction, renovation and refurbishment of homes, utility buildings and schools. On a scale of 1 to 10, the municipality applies a GPR score of 8 for sustainability. Energiek Alphen supports this objective and is keen to work with the municipality to assist builders/developers in their plan development, so that the completed buildings also contribute to the energy community.
5. Each year, the council makes a roof of municipal property available to EA for a solar installation.
   Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn and Zon op Alphen (an initiative of EA with two collective solar roofs) want to generate more sustainable solar power and sell it locally to the municipality or businesses. A new solar installation will increase the volume of sustainable energy in Alphen. Here too, the solar installation can supply energy directly to the local council or local businesses via Zelflevering+, with all the associated benefits.
6. For new wind and solar installations, at least 50% of the installation must be locally owned.
   This year, the municipal council will take a decision on the policy vision for local ownership. This document has the support of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn. EA believes that policy is good, but actual implementation is better. It is therefore important that the municipal council enforces local ownership in daily practice. This requires concrete municipal policy, namely:

• policy and financial support for EA;
• only issue a licence if the local ownership is contractually established;
• EA's access to favourable financing from BNG Bank and the Stimuleringsfonds Volkshuisvesting (SVn);
• agreements so that EA obtains the first right to purchase or lease the plot of land
• The council refers commercial parties directly to EA.

Click here for the document from Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn that was sent to the political parties in Alphen.