The £1.6 million Community Renewables Initiative is a recently launched Countryside Agency scheme to help people and organisations to harness renewable energy in their locality and find places where renewables can be sited in environmentally-sensitive ways.

When launched later this summer, YREN will provide advice and training on: funding, feasibility studies, technology issues, environmental assessment and public participation.

ATC Co-ordinator, Polly Webber told the Hebweb:

"This is brilliant news for the ATC and we are very proud to be part of the biggest community renewable energy initiative so far in the UK. Once the scheme is up and running, we will work with local people and community groups across Yorkshire to develop small-scale renewable energy projects – owned by and for the benefit of the local community. The sort of environmentally sensitive schemes we hope to help develop include energy crops, solar rooftops, houses with wood chip powered boilers or perhaps schools with small wind turbines. As well as the environmental benefits of clean, natural energy, these projects will bring educational opportunities and jobs to rural areas. It will also generate income for the local communities which develop and own these schemes."

YREN will not be formally launched until later in the summer but to register expressions of interest, contact Polly Webber at the ATC on 0845 3304930 or e-mail: Polly@alternativetechnology.org.uk

Debate this and other issues on the Hebweb Forum