Lichfield residents are being urged to support a bid to get up to £100,000 of funding for solar panels to be put on community buildings in the area.
Whittington and Fisherwick Environment Group (WFEG) and Low Carbon Lichfield (LoCaL) are launching a community co-operative – Southern Staffordshire Community Energy (SSCE) – to provide cheap power for community organisations and affordable ways for local people to invest in solar energy.
SSCE will purchase panels, install them on community buildings and provide electricity at favourable rates.
As part of their fund-raising efforts the groups have registered for a competition run by Energyshare and could potentially win an award of up to £100,000 to help fund the project.
They are asking everyone in the District to support the project by going to www.energyshare.com/ssce and signing up as supporter by June 30.
Mike Kinghan, Chair of WFEG said:
“We believe this will really seize the imagination of local people. Dependence on diminishing fossil fuels and overseas energy supplies is a huge problem, as is climate change. We need sustainable energy and this is one of the ways we can achieve it while at the same time bringing real benefits to local people and organisations.”
A number of potential buildings have already been identified and positive responses have been received from owners which are now being followed up with detailed discussions.
SSCE are also looking for people with legal, financial and technical skills to get involved, as well as organisations with a large, unobstructed roof facing between south east and south west with an interest in housing an array of panels.
For more information contact Mike Kinghan via mike@wfeg.org.uk or by phone on 01543 432238.
A public meeting to gauge public support for the initiative will be held in Wade Street Church Hall, Frog Lane on July 14 at 7.30pm.
