A TEESDALE village has been given a £38,400 grant to look at options for renewable energy and heating as it seeks to generate its own electricity.
Late last year, alarmed at global warming and climate change, a group of seven volunteers from Barningham started the ball rolling to bring green energy to the village. The group, led by village residents Mike Peach and Martha McBarron, has since formed the Barningham Net Zero Community Interest Company to take the project forward and work on other sustainability initiatives.
The grant has been provided by the Rural Community Energy Fund to kick start the process.
Steve Ottevanger, the group public relations officer, said: “We can now take progressive steps to do our bit locally in Teesdale to reduce the effect that over-reliance on fossil fuels has on our climate and environment.”
The aims are to:
l Achieve a net zero carbon footprint from building emissions by having renewable energy throughout the village
l Reduce energy costs for villagers
l Provide income from energy generation to fund future energy efficiency improvements.
The group will pay a firm of consultants to evaluate technologies so the village can generate green energy. It is hoped the project will start in the late summer.
Judith Lewis, chairwoman of Barningham Net Zero, said: “Green energy will play an important role in the bounce back from Covid-19 and we are delighted to be involved and taking such an active part.”
There will also be a review of the village’s total electricity use to work out how much energy will need to be generated.
The consultants will advise on the most effective and practical method of carbon-free electricity generation and home heating – the community will then decide the next steps via the Barningham Net Zero group.
Other initiatives in the pipeline include giving aid and advice to residents who want the best green electricity deal and improve energy efficiency. Collectively, the directors of Barningham Net Zero have experience in engineering and environmental project management, sheep farming, retail management, finance, legal structuring, accountancy, large and small-scale manufacturing, developing capital projects and community health work.
“The long-term outcome will be a sustained contribution to reducing pollution and climate change at local level whilst ensuring standards of home comfort and heating are improved at reduced cost,” a spokesman said.
