Bath and NE Somerset has launched a partnership protocol with a local Social Enterprise Bath and West Community Energy whichb has arisen out of the Transition Bath movement.

I attended the share offer launch to give the Council’s views on the ititative and at the Cabinet we approved the partnership protocol.

My Notes which formed my speach at the launch:-

Cllr Crossley: BWCE Launch

Council hosts launch event for new initiative with carbon reduction community company

• Pleased to be able to host this event as part of future cooperation with Bath & West Community Energy

Background- the challenge and aims

• As a local authority, we exist for the wellbeing of our residents.
• This wellbeing is threatened by the twin challenge of climate change and rising energy prices
• As such, we have made de-carbonising our district a priority, and aim to help cut the district’s carbon emissions by 45% by 2026.
• Clean, renewable energy is key to this, so our Draft Core Strategy contains the aim of installing 110 megawatts of renewable electricity in our district by 2026.
• This is an ambitious aim, but it is vital that we achieve it, not only to address energy prices and climate change, but also because renewable energy is an important economic opportunity.
• To take full advantage of the economic opportunity, revenues from renewable energy must stay in the local area, providing local prosperity and jobs.

Strongly supporting the aims of BWCE

• BWCE offers us an opportunity to start to make this happen. BWCE seeks to generate at least 25% of the draft Core Strategy target by 2026, amounting to over 25MWe, through community-based, local projects.

• We supporting  BWCE’s aims of delivering local sustainable energy and keeping the income from those projects in the community,  because if they are successful, they will help us to deliver our priorities. BWCE will keep energy revenues local, through their community fund, the returns to local investors and by developing a local low carbon supply chain for their projects.

• I should say of course that it is not for the Council to comment on the financial merits of the shares on offer today.

• But what I can say is that we are delighted that the first project that BWCE is planning is about offering solar panels to our schools. This means it will be possible for schools to work with BWCE and to get a deal that competes well with the market, but with unique benefits to our community. Not only will it enable our children to learn first-hand about our clean energy future, but the free electricity will help our schools to be resilient to energy price rises and, even better, the revenues from these projects will recycle locally rather than leave the area as company profits.

• We are especially pleased that if BWCE’s aims are met, they intend to be investing in 4-5 years’ time around £275-300,000 a year on average into further low carbon projects in our area, depending on which types of technologies they install.

• We are one of very few local authorities in the country who is fortunate to have a local organisation that intends to do this.

• We also welcome SSE’s £1million investment in our area. By working with companies such as SSE, and the Council, BWCE should be able to attract the further finance needed to meet its aims.

• We have been truly inspired by BWCE’s extensive expertise, enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism.  We wish them every success and look forward to cooperating with them further in the future.

The BWCE is getting support from Scottish and Southern Electricity     and their CEO was at the launch.

See below a blog on the Guardian website about the BCE launch for info written by the CEO of Scottish and Southern Energy

<http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/energising-community-renewables-big-business?newsfeed=true>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/energising-community-renewables-big-business?newsfeed=true