CUMBRIA COMMUNITY ENERGY TRUST CONSULTATION

THE establishment of a Cumbria Community Energy Trust has been proposed for early 2010 as a means of ensuring that Cumbrians benefit more fully from the development of renewable energy projects in our County. More specifically, it wishes to promote community owned renewable energy projects that are more socially, environmentally and financially considerate to residents of Cumbria.

It aims to promote community owned renewable energy projects which are not only valuable in generating renewable electricity, but also benefit local communities proportionately. Furthermore, the proposed Trust is keen to promote specific procurement clauses which favour Cumbrian based businesses wherever practical, ensuring that local job creation opportunities are maximised.

As a first step, Cumbria Vision, Cumbria County Council and the Lake District National Park Autority issued a questionnaire to residents to see if there was sufficient support among the public for smaller, appropriate scale renewable energy and community heating schemes (wind, hydro, solar, wood, anaerobic digestion) which would be owned by and benefit the community and residents of Cumbria. This questionnaire also looked to asses whether Cumbrians would be willing to invest in such projects, providing various levels of return to the investor, a share of the profits channelled into local community projects and a share set aside to help other communities establish their own renewable energy schemes. Ideally, 100% of a scheme would be owned by Cumbrian residents, though realistically such schemes may need to engage external, socially responsible investors such as The Co-Operative Bank, Charity Bank or Local Authority, for example.

The deadline for responses, which will remain confidential, was March 31, 2010. Cumbria Vision, Cumbria County Council and the Lake District Park Authority are now collating the responses to see if the Trust is feasible. Partners are committed to keeping respondants up to date on the findings of the questionnaire and future investment opportunities.

Updates will also be posted on this page and announcements made in the local press on the Cumbria Vision Twitter feed.

If you wish to contact someone at Cumbria Vision about the Trust consultation please email consultation.response@cumbriavision.co.uk

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