Conference bids to kick-start Scotland's fledgling community energy sector
A two-day conference held in Stirling is bidding to grow Scotland’s community renewables movement – by kick-staring them into action.
The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) conference, held today and tommorrow, aims to help people keen to start their own project by highlighting the financial support and professional advice available to them through bodies such as Local Energy Scotland.
Anne Schiffer, Friends of the Earth Scotland community power campaigner, said: “This is a great opportunity to share experience and learn from one another that will help Scotland’s community energy movement grow from strength to strength.
Community power campaigners from the hugely successful Belgian co-operative Ecopower will speak at the event.
Community owenership...enables communities to make decisions about their energy future
It grew from a handful of members who originally wanted to revive a small hydro scheme to a renewable energy co-operative with around 50,000 people.
Energy minister Fergus Ewing will deliver the keynote address and the event is supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Clara Glovier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This conference will help spread the word about the benefits of these great local initiatives and the positive impact they will have for future generations.”
