NEW Forest District Council (NFDC) has plans to launch a new community energy programme in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and raise climate change awareness in the district. The council is partnering with Community Energy South to deliver a two-year initiative that will support community groups in the New Forest to develop community-owned renewables, which will generate low-carbon heat and power and reduce energy use from the national grid.

New Forest District Council is supporting the creation of the community energy groups by providing Community Energy South with £100k in funding. Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, NFDC portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “This two-year partnership with Community Energy South ensures that we are continuing to support our district in reducing carbon emissions and improve energy security, while helping to raise awareness of the impact of locally led action on climate change, and aligns with our aims as council for the district to become net carbon zero by 2050.

“With this support from New Forest District Council and Community Energy South, our communities can build and invest in and benefit from their own renewable energy.”

Ollie Pendered, CEO of Community Energy South, said: “We are very happy to be working with the New Forest District Council on this
ambitious new programme.

“Communities in the New Forest have a fantastic track record of delivering community-led action on sustainability and the environment and we hope to build on this work to support the development of a community energy group that can then develop community owned renewables.

“Community energy is a key component of our net zero aims, as well as building local energy resilience.”

Residents can find out more about the project on the Community Energy South website at https://www.communityenergysouth.or