Community-run renewable energy projects should be promoted by national government ministers to break the grip that the six big power firms have over consumers, said Philip Blond, director of Respublica, a leading think-tank, reports The Edinburgh Scotsman. Blond, has cited examples of community energy projects in Scotland as a potential blueprint for ending the “closed shop” in the energy market. Six big energy companies currently control 99 per cent of the energy market, and Blond believes that this needs to be challenged. In a new paper by his think-tank, Re-energising Our Communities: Transforming the energy market through local energy production, Blond argues that community enterprises are the best way to tackle the problem by utilising renewable energy sources. A highlighted example is the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust in the Hebrides, where islanders have managed to produce all their own energy needs through a profitable series of developments since 2008, including wind farms, solar panelling on buildings and building a hydro dam. Another highlighted example is a wind turbine project near the city of Stirling, which will ultimately yield nearly $1 million in community yearly profits.
Go local with clean power is a model that could be quite profitable for US communities, as well.
Source
Community power projects urged to challenge big firms. Community-run renewable energy projects should be promoted by ministers to break the grip that the Big Six power firms have over consumers, a leading think-tank director has said. Edinburgh Scotsman http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/community_power_projects_urged_to_challenge_big_firms_1_2112423
