From the Church of England

A church-based project in Manchester shows how communityenergy is already making a difference

Church of England representative David Shreeve joined others today from the Community Energy Coalition to hand in a nearly 60,000 signature petition to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. It calls on the Government to provide greater support for co-operative and community-owned energy projects.

Ed Davey MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change received the petition which is one of the highlights of Community Energy Fortnight. The campaign aims to engage and inspire people about the wide-ranging benefits of community energy.

St John’s Sunshine, a community benefit co-op in Old Trafford, Manchester is an exciting example of the type of projects that are already making a difference. Photovoltaic panels installed on the south facing church roof generate electricity for St John’s Centre next door. The Centre, which serves a diverse faith and cultural community, becomes more sustainable in the process. In addition, each year members of the co-op, which include both church and community investors, award ‘sunshine grants’ to local groups from the income generated from the Feed in Tariff.

“This little energy project won’t save the world’ says the Revd John Hughes, priest in charge at St John’s. ‘but it does show how a volunteer led energy business can bring together people in a community to make a difference on their patch of the planet.’

David Shreeve the Church of England's national environment adviser said: 'The Church is very well placed to encourage communities to come together and develop energy projects. Our buildings are installing a variety of renewable processes, but there could be many more especially if the Church can work with local communities. We would like to use our unique networks to increase awareness and information which would put potential interest in touch with completed installations to encourage more community projects around the country.”