Community group to put solar powered vegetables on the menu

A local energy co-op have signed an agreement with Exeter veg-box scheme and online farm shop Shillingford Organics to set-up the city’s first ever source of community-owned electricity – and in turn create an income for much needed community projects.

Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) is getting local people to team up and invest in solar panels which will supply the farm with cheap electricity. By selling electricity to the farm, they will create an income which can be used for community projects that tackle fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

The two parties signed a heads of terms agreement last week – an important stage in the legal process and an agreement in principle that the project can go ahead. There is still work to do and ECOE is hoping that the project will be up and running in the spring of 2015.

They also are working to bring other organisations on board – schools, community centres and churches – who could also have panels on their roofs, supplying them with cheap
electricity and creating a bigger income for the community fund.

ECOE Executive Chair Gill Wyatt said: “We are absolutely delighted to have reached this important milestone in bringing community owned energy to Exeter.

"With reduced energy bills for Shillingford and an income for our community this really is a win-win situation.

"In fact, when you consider community energy also helps tackle climate change, raises awareness of energy issues and enables local people to take ownership of local energy production, there are multiple wins involved.”

Martyn Bragg, owner of Shillingford Organics, said: “This is an exciting day for our business and for the local community.

"Working together I believe we can use community energy to  make a big, practical difference to people’s lives in Exeter.”