News
Common Concerns about Wind Turbines Publication
Wed, 19 October 2011
The Centre for Sustainable Energy has produced a free publication addressing common concerns people have about wind power. It uses evidence-based analysis and draws on peer-reviewed academic research and publicly funded studies to ensure that it offers reliable information on issues such as noise, shadow flicker, impact on property prices and bird-strike.
www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/common_concerns_about_wind_power.pdf.
Climate Change Adaptation Case Studies
Wed, 19 October 2011UKCIP, an organisation which aims to help us all adapt to the consequences of climate
change, has produced a number of case studies of adaptation projects, including some in
based in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Community Energy Film ‘Wind of Change’ Released
Wed, 19 October 2011A Stirlingshire village have released a short film telling the story of how they became the
first village in the UK to enter a joint-venture agreement with a wind farm developer.
Currently this project generates around £30-50,000 a year to be spent in the community.
Once they have paid off the loan they took out to start the project, they will have around
£400,000 a year to spend. To date the money has been used to provide half of the houses
in the village with free insulation, with future project plans which aim to make the village
carbon neutral.
The film can be viewed online: http://youtu.be/ls_1p8ad2mc or ordered on DVD from
www.fintrydt.org.uk.
Local Groups Gather to Learn About Low Carbon Planning
Wed, 19 October 2011
A total of around 50 people gathered at two low carbon planning events in Newark and
Matlock earlier this month to learn more about how to bring community-owned renewable
to their area, as well as how to adapt to climate change. The event was organised by the
Centre for Sustainable Energy in partnership with Marches Energy Agency.
Members of local community groups gathered with local planners, local authority climate
change and energy officers and elected members to take part in a number of interactive
workshops, including a chance to explore the Plan Local Model –a four metre by one
metre fictional town with lots of environmentally friendly features.
(www.planlocal.org.uk/pages/the-model).
Comments from the day included:
• ‘Great range of speakers, topics, exercises and info-many thanks for such a rich
and enjoyable day. Keep up the good work!’ – Climate Change Officer, Local
Authority
• ‘A good balance of speakers and content. Would have taken months of research to
have achieved this myself.’ - Community Group Member
• ‘An excellent event, informative and participative and very enjoyable.’ – Community
group member
All community groups represented received a free Plan Local pack – a folder full of
practical exercises, information sheets and DVDs to help groups plan and launch a
community owned renewable. Any community group can download or order this pack for
free: www.planlocal.org.uk/downloads/group/the-planlocal-resource-pack.
Anyone who missed the events has the opportunity to attend the same event in Corby,
Northamptonshire on Friday 28th October or Leicester on Saturday 29th October. For more
information contact: kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk.
Derbyshire Eco Centre Courses
Wed, 19 October 2011Various dates
The Derbyshire Eco Centre – one of the county council’s adult education centres - is
holding a number of eco-themed courses this autumn, including topics as diverse as
building a house from wood and making jewellery from recycled materials.