Sustainable Energy Group
Following the recent publication of the Stern report on Climate Change, issues of sustainability and the use of renewable sources of energy have come to the forefront and will undoubtedly colour future government themes, strategies and policies. Already the Welsh Assembly Government has identified Climate Change as a Priority in its strategic frameworks for the Convergence Programmes for European funding starting in 2007.
Pembroke 21C is in the process of purchasing Foundry House, the renovation of which will provide opportunities for the Charity to pave the way locally with sustainable building techniques and the use of renewable and sustainable energy. Pembroke 21C has excellent links with environmental organisations through the Project Officer for the Mill Ponds complex, who is also knowledgeable about issues of environmental concern. The Charity is also proposing to set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) which will be looking at appropriate ways of raising revenue to be ploughed back into the Charity.
It is therefore believed that now is the optimum time for Pembroke 21C to be setting up a group to address these issues locally and to see how such activities can benefit the community.
Aims
- To ensure that Pembroke 21C paves the way for the use of renewable energy in the community by incorporating sustainability as a priority in all its activities and projects
- To work in partnership with existing and new bodies to identify the future sustainable energy needs in the community – domestic, commercial, agricultural and leisure activities – and to identify suitable sustainable energy sources to meet them
- To facilitate sustainable energy projects and enterprises within the community
Suggested Activities / Goals
- To meet with Green Dragon with regard to Pembroke 21C signing up to the Green Dragon Environmental Management Standard
- To establish partnerships and links with appropriate groups and bodies – eg Pembrokeshire Bio Energy Ltd, West Wales Eco Centre, Arena Network, Coed Cymru, PCNPA, Pembroke NFU
- To carry out an energy audit of Pembroke 21C and the Pembroke community
- To enable the development of suitable projects by Pembroke 21C and its related CIC
- To bid for funds for the implementation of such projects
- To acquire land to grow bio energy crops (eg miscanthus, willow and rape seed) and to set up a bio diesel plant for processing the crops
- To run workshops to educate the community and local schools and to engage them in the project/s
- To set up bio cells to heat greenhouses to grow organic crops and produce to sell in the Farmers Market (NB: possible link with unused local walled garden)
Gareth Jones / 9th November 2006
Climate Change ERDF Priority 2:Theme 3 (Energy) and Theme 4 (Climate Change Adaptation)