Economy
UK’s first Community Energy Fortnight set to create ‘clear pathway’ for local people
The UK’s first Community Energy Fortnight, an initiative to inspire and engage people with the concept of community energy, will take place from August 24-September 8.
The project is being co-ordinated by the Community Energy Coalition (CEC), whose members include the Co-operative Group, the National Trust and the Church of England.
Events will be hosted across the UK to help people understand community energy to inspire communities about the benefits of this form of energy generation and deliver a petition to the government calling for greater support for communities that wish to create their own power.
Click here to read The Guide to Limitless Clean Energy 2013
Rebecca Willis of Co-operatives UK said, “It’s really hard for community groups to generate their own power and there are all kinds of barriers in the way.
“What we’re asking for is government to create a clear pathway for communities – so if they want to generate their own power there’s a very simple process that they can follow to do that.”
The petition will be delivered to the UK government during the second week of the project, and already has 58,000 signatories. It calls for the government to support community energy by removing bureaucracy and barriers to its expansion.
Events include tours of wind and solar farms in an attempt to bust some of the most common myths surrounding renewable energy.
The CEC, which was founded in 2011, says the benefits of community energy include reducing carbon emissions, keeping the profits within the community (as opposed to the ‘big six’ energy suppliers) and increasing public acceptance of vital renewable energy sources.
To see your local events, click here.
Further reading:
Manifesto published to accelerate ‘community energy revolution’
Harnessing the power of a community
German co-operatives lead renewable energy surge
Community renewables: creating sustainable wealth with values