New Scottish Community Renewables website launches
Friends of the Earth Scotland today launched a new online platform showcasing a European wide campaign for people’s ownership of renewable energy called ‘Community Power’.
www.communitypower.scot went live this morning and shares examples of successful community owned renewable energy projects from across Scotland.
Friends of the Earth Scotland community power campaigner Anne Schiffer said:
“Community groups across Scotland are leading the way in moving from dirty fossil fuels to harnessing our vast renewable energy potential. The stories collected here show how individuals and communities have made this journey and will hopefully inspire others to start their own project.”
The case studies are intended to inform and inspire Scottish communities thinking about starting a project but have also attracted interest from further afield. Friends of the Earth Scotland is involved in a European Community Power project with partners in Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Belgium and Hungary.
“Our European partners are looking closely at the Scottish experience to learn from what has worked well but also what might need to be improved upon for their local circumstances. This website makes that information exchange easier and more accessible to an even wider audience.
“Community energy is about giving power to the people and creating a fairer energy system based on renewable energy. “
The website also showcases the Scottish Community Energy Coalition whose members are helping communities across Scotland realise local energy projects. Communities are invited to attend the 2015 Community And Renewable Energy Scheme CARES conference, a joint coalition event.
Scotland is on track to beat their 500MW target of community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020. Friends of the Earth Scotland want the target to be revised upwards to 2000MW by 2030.
Anne concluded:
Community power is a big success story in Scotland but we can do so much more. We are urging the Scottish Government to increase their current target for community and locally owned energy for 2020 and to set an even more ambitious target for 2030.”
The website was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Clara Glovier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said:
“I am delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported the Community Power project. The website will help spread the word about the benefits of these great local initiatives and the positive impact they will have for future generations”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The website is operated by Friends of the Earth Scotland www.communitypower.scot
2. SCEC members include Client Earth, Community Energy Scotland, Energy4All, Energy Action Scotland, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Local Energy Scotland, SCENE and Sharenergy.
3. The website also includes the Community Power film entitled ‘Community Power Scotland: From Remote Island Grids to Urban Solar Co-operatives’ which examines some the projects featured in more detail http://youtu.be/RZ6bVTUfepo
4. Local Energy Scotland will be holding a Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Conference in Stirling on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th March 2015. The conference will celebrate the achievement of Scottish projects and provide information for those thinking of starting their own. http://www.localenergyscotland.org/conference
5. Welcome for Community Renewables Boost from Green Investment Bank February 2015 http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/node/1966
6. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 74 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk
7. About People’s Postcode Lottery : http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/ppl
People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery. Players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities and good causes local to them.
People’s Postcode Lottery is an External Lottery Manager and manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different causes supporting a range of good causes. For details on which society lottery is running each week, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/society
Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under certificate nr 829-N-102511-009 and 829-R-102513-008. Registered office: Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR
People’s Postcode Lottery players support the following Trusts – Postcode Green Trust, Postcode Care Trust, Postcode Culture Trust, Postcode Animal Trust, Postcode Heroes Trust, Postcode Global Trust, Postcode African Trust, Postcode Children Trust, Postcode Community Trust and People’s Postcode Trust. These Trusts are funded entirely by players and support a variety of good causes. For further information on each charity, visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/charities
50p from every £2 ticket goes to good causes and players have raised over £61 Million for good causes across the country
There are five draws a month with prizes every day and each ticket costs £2 – paid monthly in advance by direct debit. For further prize information, visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes
Maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw revenue to a maximum of £400,000
Players can sign up by Direct Debit, credit card or PayPal online at www.postcodelottery.co.uk , or by calling 0808 10-9-8-7-6-5.