STCE are still hoping to purchase Twemlows solar farm but the process of arranging the transfer of the portfolio of sites currently owned by CoRE into community ownership is taking much longer than anyone expected. We hope to have news on progress in early September.
Meanwhile Power to Change have approved a Next Generation grant for STCE. This includes money for setting up a Community Benefit Society, running a share offer and investigating ways of improving the biodiversity of the Twemlows site.
Money is also available for feasibility studies for other community renewable schemes in Shropshire and Telford and Sharenergy have been contracted to carry out this work. The most promising project at the moment is for a heat network and wind turbine combination in Bishop’s Castle, but we are also looking at other schemes.
Marches Energy Agency (MEA) have also been funded to look into the scale of renewables needed in Shropshire and Telford to meet net Zero targets, a report on this will be issued shortly. MEA are also carrying out some work on energy efficiency and community networks.
STCE have also been asked to arrange for the distribution of £20k of Community Benefit funds from Twemlows. £10k of this is set aside for community projects local to Whitchurch, this money will be managed by the Rural Communities Charity. The other £10k is available for environmental projects across the whole of Shropshire and Telford, please get in touch if you would like to apply for some of this money.