Torrs Hydro is one of about 75 locally owned green energy projects across the country opening their doors to the public as part of the third Community Energy Fortnight, which runs from today until 20 September. “These projects allow the public to experience first-hand how communities can take control and go about owning, generating and saving energy,” says Will Dawson at Forum for the Future, which is running the event on behalf of the Community Energy Coalition, a network of environmental and sustainable energy groups. The projects on show will be demonstrating everything from how electricity is generated from cow poo in Wrexham, to obtaining energy from underground rocks at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The government’s proposals have clearly alarmed the community energy sector. “It may not have been the government’s intention, but our members are suffering very significant collateral damage from the raft of recent government announcements,” says Emma Bridge at Community Energy England, the trade body that represents more than 180 schemes. “These have already had a devastating impact on a large number of community hydro and solar projects in particular. Some have had to be shelved, others have been put on ice and many more are looking hard at their financial viability.” However, Bridge, who will be addressing delegates at a community energy conference in Oxford today, believes the sector will survive the government onslaught. “Our sector is robust enough to survive these challenges, not least because of the determination and dedication of the groups who develop community energy schemes. We will bounce back.”
Community Energy Fortnight
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