Co-operative Energy will begin sustainability fortnight with Community Energy Conference

Industry leader Co-operative Energy will open the Community Energy Fortnight 2014 with a conference exploring the rapid growth of community energy, complete with a panel of leading speakers from across the energy industry.

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The conference will be held later this week in Birmingham, on September 13, and is supported by some of the UK’s leading community energy pioneers. The talks will discuss the success of community energy schemes right across the country, including hydro-electricity projects, crowd-funded windfarms and solar panels on the rooftops of homes, schools and community buildings.

Confirmed speakers include Ed Reed of Cornwall Energy, Adam Marvel of Pure Leapfrog, Mike Smyth of Energy4All and Will Dawson of The Community Energy Coalition.

The Community Energy Fortnight has been organised by the Community Energy Coalition (CEC), a group of 36 civil society organisations led by sustainability non-profit organisation, Forum for the Future. The event will run from Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 September.

Other events include ‘Fuelling Manchester’ by Carbon Co-op, a community-led co-operative in Manchester that aims to self-retrofit homes and will be hosting a networking event, as well as ‘Bristol Green Doors,’ a community interest company showcasing a number of homes to the public, free of charge, to show the advantages of energy saving technologies and initiatives.

Secretary of state for energy Edward Davey said, “Community energy is a growing movement in the UK and the potential to scale it up is enormous.

“For this reason, the government published its first ever Community Energy Strategy in January this year and by working together, local authorities and communities have the power to implement local energy projects, large and small, and to help people take control of the energy they generate and use.”

Photo source: Community Energy Fortnight 

Further Reading:

Community Energy Fortnight: Bristol Green Doors

Community Energy Fortnight: Regen SW

Community Energy Fortnight: Drumlin Wind Energy Co-operative

Community Energy Fortnight: Scene Consulting

Community Energy Fortnight gears up for second series of events