Grassroots energy on the way

Power to the people

Grassroots energy production using solar panels and water wheels could be the key to the future needs of rural Devon communities.

South Hams Council is to lobby the government to speed up legislation which could pave the way for local schemes to play their part in keeping energy costs down.

Cllr John McKay (Lib Dem, West Dart) told the full council on Thursday that there is a ‘huge need’ for local community power generation projects. Totnes, Peter Tavy and Exeter are among the places in Devon where such schemes have been launched.

“In the south west there are issues with the network, so large-scale renewable energy schemes have a big problem,” said Cllr McKay. “But smaller ones would work perfectly well.”

Community renewable energy projects face red tape and high costs, and the Local Electricity Bill seeks to make major power suppliers give community producers a fair price for the power they sell, and make that power available to the local community without charging high fees.

“It is very important,” said Cllr McKay. “We want to lobby the government and say please get on with it.”

Cllr Victor Abbott (Lib Dem, Ivybridge East and Ugborough) said he’s concerned that a lack of investment in power production could lead to another ‘debacle’ like that currently surrounding the nation’s water supply.

He said: “If we could only get central government to pay attention, this would be a good future for the supply of energy.”