A lively and well attended public meeting about Sustainable
Crediton's Community Energy Project was held on 20 October. The
main aims of the meeting were to report on progress with the
feasibility study looking into the potential for the project and to
listen to and discuss views on the project presented by the
public.
Andrew Shadrake from Devon Association for Renewable Energy
[DARE] explained that they have assessed the possibility for
initial projects based on wind power and anaerobic digestion and
ruled these technologies out at present. DARE is looking at the
potential for solar photovoltaic panels [PV] on the large roofs of
businesses, schools and community buildings as the best option to
take the project forward. He explained how schools in Plymouth are
already saving large amounts of money through buying cheap
electricity generated on their roofs by a not-for-private-profit,
community owned, co-operative company. He said there are great
benefits from using electricity directly where it is generated.
Comments and questions received from the public before the
meeting were written up on a flip chart and discussed at some length. A
particular concern was the fact that the government's feed in
tariff [FIT] payments feature in the viability of the many
community energy projects throughout the country and that FITs are
paid for through electricity bills. It was agreed that this is not
a satisfactory system at all for people in fuel poverty. Members of
the organising group were keen to use any profits from a community
owned company to help with reduction of bills for the less well
off.
The meeting split into three groups to discuss energy
conservation, technical issues and how community energy companies
work. Sustainable Crediton Energy and Core Groups will consider all
the issues raised. At the end of the meeting there was a show of
hands which indicated unanimous support for continuing with the
project.
All the discussion was enhanced by some excellent refreshments
and poems about Crediton and renewable energy from local poet Ian
Beech!
Agenda
With Ian Beech, Crediton's performance poet.
Sustainable Crediton Energy Group has commissioned consultants
to look into prospects and possibilities for wind, solar
photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion technologies. We want to set
up a community benefit company to generate energy locally.
Hear about their findings so far.
Come and give us your views.
Help to plan for our future.
For more information: email energy@sustainablecrediton.org.uk
leave a message on 07506 290198 or go to www.sustainablecrediton.org.uk
energy page
Download A4 Poster