Forest residents working together to help tackle the energy and climate crisis

Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Cllr Chris McFarling said:

“It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the activities at our recent Lydney event, gaining new information and meeting others interested in this topic. 

“The interest in the project from residents has been brilliant to see and the impact that Forest Community Energy will have on renewable energy in the Forest of Dean will assist greatly in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and the high prices that go with them, whilst achieving our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

“Forest Community Energy is about coming together as residents and as a community to tackle the climate and cost of living crisis, with residents working alongside members of the Council and partners to make a real difference across the district. This could involve being part of renewable energy installations, using the AURORA Energy Tracker app to help lower yours and your neighbourhoods carbon footprint and energy bills, or simply by contributing your ideas to tackle climate change in the Forest of Dean.

“We’re really excited about the future of Forest Community Energy and would like to hear from anyone interested in the project, so please reach out and get in contact if you’d like to be part of the friendly group, or if you have any questions or ideas that you’d like to put forward.”

Forest of Dean District Council was successful in securing funding as part of the AURORA Project to support community decarbonisation and to set up Forest Community Energy. This will see members of the Council and partners at CSE work directly with communities to reduce their carbon emissions and to establish a community solar scheme through a community energy share offer.

Helping to progress the AURORA Project in the Forest of Dean, the Forest Community Energy group is focusing on community solar and energy awareness projects, such as promoting the upcoming community share offer for the rooftop solar PV installation planned for Lydney Leisure Centre and The Dean Academy, and promoting the recently launched AURORA Energy Tracker mobile phone app. Forest Community Energy is also working on expanding community solar to other community and commercial buildings around the district and running home energy efficiency projects.

Forest Community Energy is looking for more residents to join and would welcome those interested to get in touch. No experience of renewable energy is required and the group would like to hear from those in the community who are interested in ways of reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills and those who would like to participate in helping the Forest of Dean achieve carbon neutral status by 2030.

One of the founding group members of Forest Community Energy, local resident Tom Locke said:

“Being involved in Forest Community Energy is a way of individually making a difference to help the climate and community.  Everyone has different skills and knowledge to contribute and get involved in activities they are most interested in.

“We meet regularly, both face to face and online and our meetings are fun and friendly and we’d welcome anyone who’d like to get involved to get in contact.” 

People who would like to join the Forest Community Energy group to drive forward local energy projects, or to raise an idea or question can email: [email protected].

To stay updated about the AURORA Project and Forest Community Energy, please sign up to the newsletter at http://eepurl.com/h5l4lf and visit the website at www.aurora-h2020.eu/fod-home/.