Burnham-On-Sea residents can find out about securing funding for a range of community-based low-carbon initiatives and energy-saving schemes at two drop-in events this week.
Projects which develop skills and create jobs could also be in-line for a share of a £3 million funding pot known as the ‘Sunshine Fund’, thanks to new local energy company Burnham and Weston Energy CIC.
Schemes can focus on environmental, social and/or economic sustainability – this could include initiatives to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, upskill local people or provide low carbon community transport.
Grants will be available to projects in Burnham-On-Sea, Highbridge, Weston-Super-Mare and areas within 10km of the Wick Solar Farm.
The first drop-in event will be at The Hive in Weston-super-Mare, on Monday June 11th from 3pm to 6pm. The second event will be at The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre in Burnham-On-Sea, on Tuesday June 12th from noon until 3pm.
Burnham and Weston Energy owns one of the largest community solar arrays in the UK at Wick Farm between Burnham-On-Sea and Weston-super-Mare, pictured here.
The array is made up of nearly 36,000 solar panels which generate the equivalent of the electricity consumed by more than 2,000 homes yearly.
Jake Burnyeat, Director of Burnham and Weston Energy CIC, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The solar farm is expected to generate around £50,000 surplus each year over its 25 year lifespan – half will help support an energy and fuel poverty advice service, while the other half will go into the Burnham and Weston Sunshine Fund, to provide grants to local organisations.”
The ‘Sunshine Fund’ is being managed on behalf of the project by the Somerset Community Foundation, with the first grants available in the summer.
Jake added: “The shift from a centralised fossil fuel-based energy system to one based on distributed low carbon and smart technologies creates the opportunity for communities to take back control of their energy systems, keep money in the local economy and make the energy production an asset for the local community.”
For more information, visit burnhamandwestoncic.co.uk.
