Call for more support for green community projects
A coalition of organisations is calling on the government to provide greater support for community low-carbon schemes.
According to the groups, which represent millions of individuals in the UK, there is not enough backing for grassroots energy projects.
In a move that could boost renewable energy investment in the country, they are meeting with energy secretary Chris Huhne to launch a set of green proposals and discuss ways in which the government can assist with implementing them.
The coalition includes civil society leaders from churches, charities and businesses, including the National Trust, The Co-operative, Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Church of England and the National Federation of Women's Institutes.
A joint "vision for community energy" has been developed by the civil society organisations outlining ways in which current provision for community energy initiatives can be scaled up in order to ensure the nation meets its climate change goals.
"We want nothing less than a clean energy revolution, with communities controlling and benefiting from their own renewable energy," declared head of The Co-operative Paul Monaghan.
His organisation has set aside £1 million to back six local energy schemes for 2012 through its Community Energy Challenge.
Chair of the National Federation of Women's Institutes Ruth Bond stated: "We see community energy as people working together, not having schemes imposed on them."
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) has recently suggested that not enough is being done by the UK to reduce the national carbon footprint, something that investment in community energy projects could assist with.
CAT information officer Kit Jones stated that "big changes" are required in the way in which energy is used and generated in the UK, in addition to efforts made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in areas such as food, transport, heating and purchasing.
He advised that as one of the largest reductions in carbon footprints that can be achieved by individuals is in their home heating consumption, advising improving insulation and boiler systems, or putting on warm clothing in order to permit thermostats to be turned down.
