Via the proposal of the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, local communities would be encouraged to take control of their energy bills whilst helping to transform the energy system at large.
Under the plans, announced on 27 January, the British Government will broaden the support available for community energy projects, where people come together to reduce their energy use or purchase and generate their own energy. Specifically, the plans include:
- £10m Urban Community Energy Fund to kick-start community energy generation projects in England
- £1m Big Energy Saving Network funding to support the work of volunteers helping vulnerable consumers to reduce their energy
- A community energy saving competition, offering £100,000 to communities to develop innovative approaches to saving energy and money
- An information resource for people interested in developing community energy projects
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