This is an ESRC funded, 2-year research project that critically examines and assesses local authority sustainable energy transitions. It does so by asking questions about how decentralising energy systems and political devolution are affecting local authority strategies and their capacities to act in delivering these strategies. The working hypothesis is that ongoing power (re-)distributions, enegy and political, are allowing some local authorities to pursue quite innovative sustainable energy programmes. There are 6 primary case studies: West Midlands Combined Authority; Bristol City Council, Cornwall County Council, Nottingham City Council, Peterborough City Council and Cardiff City Council. The project explores relationships between:

• sustainable energy decision-making and national energy policy and regulation;
• local authority capacities to pursue sustainable energy and other national policies - including devolution and austerity;
• local authority decision-making and socio-technical changes, such as the rescaling of energy systems;