Co-operative Energy powers up community energy campaign

Co-operative Energy is this year’s lead sponsor of Community Energy Fortnight, the world’s biggest community energy campaign.

Organised by the Community Energy Coalition (CEC) - a group of 36 civil society organisations led by sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future, the Community Energy Fortnight runs from 13-28 September 2014.

The Fortnight gives the British public the chance to visit established community projects in their local area, all of which are actively engaged in generating and/or saving energy for the benefit of local people. From visits to wind farms and solar parks to energy efficiency workshops, the events are designed to bring community energy to life and cultivate consumer engagement.

Ramsay Dunning, group general manager, Co-operative Energy said: “We are at the forefront of sourcing our power from community energy providers. We believe that the community ownership of clean energy projects empowers them to decide upon and manage their initiatives in locally appropriate ways and keeps the profits generated within the community.

“We’ll be encouraging our hundreds of thousands of customers and members to get involved as well. We know they are strong supporters of Co-operative Energy’s low carbon sourcing policies, and would like to see a more vibrant co-operative and social economy in the UK.”

Giles Bristow, director of programmes, Forum for the Future, commented: “The Fortnight is inspiring people across the UK to do something really positive to build a more sustainable energy system from the grassroots up, and the CEC is working hard to create the right conditions for it to flourish so we can help bring our members’ vision of more resilient communities to life.”

Picture credit: Andy Cantlon