Community Energy South is partnering with New Forest District Council to deliver a two-year initiative to support the development of community energy in the New Forest. It will work with communities from across the district to develop community owned, renewable energy projects and help community buildings lower their costs and reduce their carbon footprints. In addition, the programme will build a network of energy champions to support households in rural communities to lower their energy bills.
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “This two-year partnership with Community Energy South ensures that we are continuing to support our district in reducing carbon emissions and improve energy security, while helping to raise awareness of the impact of locally led action on climate change, and aligns with our aims as council for the district to become net carbon zero by 2050.”
More than 60 people attended the launch of the Community Energy in the New Forest programme on Tuesday 18 July in Lyndhurst to hear about an exciting two year programme which aims to kick start community energy in the district.
“With this support from New Forest District Council and Community Energy South, our communities can build and invest in and benefit from their own renewable energy, and I encourage everyone to attend the launch event on Tuesday 18 July to find out more about how they can get involved in this fantastic new programme.”
Ollie Pendered, CEO of Community Energy South said: “We are very happy to be working with the New Forest District Council on this ambitious new programme. Communities in the New Forest have a fantastic track record of delivering community led action on sustainability and the environment and we hope to build on this work to support the development of a community energy group that can then develop community owned renewables. Community energy is a key component of our net zero aims, as well as building local energy resilience.”