Community energy schemes to get £1bn investment boost

RENEWABLE energy projects that cut bills and generate cash for local libraries, places of worship and community centres are to get a £1 billion boost.

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The Government and publicly-owned Great British Energy are announcing the “local power plan” backed by up to £1 billion in new funding for community-owned clean energy projects such as solar panels and small-scale hydroelectric schemes.

The funding is the “biggest ever investment in community energy in British history’, according to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and it is hoped it will cut bills and generate revenue for the likes of places of worship, social clubs and community and leisure centres.

Great British Energy has already started efforts to boost community energy, with £5 million for community energy projects, including solar panels on places of worship in Leicestershire to a solar farm in Wiltshire.

And it has put £16 million into mayoral strategic authorities supporting renewables on buildings such as leisure centres and fire stations.