The workshop was the latest stage of our Energy in Your Community work in the area and followed community events, discussion and the Community Energy Survey earlier this year.
The evening was an opportunity to look at what we have heard from the community so far, learn more about the initial work to explore local renewable energy opportunities and keep the conversation going.
Exploring the options
During the workshop, we shared the results of the community engagement carried out so far and looked at the initial pre-feasibility work on some of the wind and solar locations identified for further exploration.
This early work considered a range of factors, including planning and landscape constraints, grid connections and other technical considerations. It does not mean that any of the locations have been selected for development.
The workshop also explored what would need to happen before any community-owned energy project could be developed and the different ways a future project could potentially be owned and run.
Residents had the opportunity to ask questions, discuss the information presented and share their views about what should happen next.
Taking a more active role
We also discussed the possibility of forming a community energy working group for local people interested in taking a more active role in exploring community-owned energy opportunities in the area.
The likely role of the group would be to:
- Increase awareness of community energy locally.
- Continue engagement with the wider community and gather feedback.
- Explore how to maximise benefits for local communities.
- Help identify whether there are viable community-owned energy opportunities that could move to further feasibility work.
- Consider different community ownership options if a viable project emerges.
If you are interested in joining the community energy working group, please complete our expression of interest form.
Submitting an expression of interest does not commit you to joining the group. It will help us understand the level of interest and keep you informed about future opportunities to get involved.
What happens next?
We are now reviewing the questions and feedback raised at the workshop. These will help inform the next stage of the work.
No decision has been made to develop a community energy project. Any option taken forward beyond the current exploratory stage would require further community engagement and more detailed technical, environmental and financial feasibility work. If the community does decide to take a project forward it would still need to go through a full planning process.
Find out more about Energy in Your Community in Peasedown St John, Wellow and Shoscombe.
