At the recent Community Association AGM, Ettie Spencer put forward a proposal to work towards a Carbon Neutral Stenton. It was favourably received by those attending but for those who couldn’t be there, I have pleasure posting it on our Blog.
K C SCA
“The health of the rural economy and rural communities in this country is vital to the health of our overall economy and our landscape.
•As people living in a rural area, we need to be at the cutting edge of 21st century living, and should be taking a lead in tackling the issues of our time.
•Not only are we concerned about climate change and the environment, but we are as worried as everyone about the cost of energy, about fuel poverty and about the sustainability of all our futures.
•Urban and rural life is interdependent, as is our way of life with the rest of the world.
In this village we use a lot of oil, we drive a lot and we have difficult to heat houses.
We appreciate the landscape in which we live and recognise it only exists while there is a thriving rural economy, whether it be farming, small businesses, service industries or leisure.
"We should look and learn from our neighbours such as Holland and Denmark where a large proportion of electricity is generated at the local level. This is cheaper, more efficient, less polluting and, crucially, accessible to communities………. Renewable energy brought the modern age to Scotland for it was the power of our rivers that turned the first mills of industry, if we do our job well, renewable energy will bring a second revolution to Scotland, a revolution in community ownership, community confidence, community wealth - a revolution of community power!"
Alan Hobbett, Community Energy Scotland, 2009
What am I suggesting?
I think we can aspire to become Scotland’s first carbon neutral village and by so doing to provide a 
model for other communities….
•As a village of about 71 households we are a small and compact community and an ideal size to generate our own green electricity.
•We could generate a surplus – and therefore make money for further projects.
•Electricity could be the starting point. We could achieve this focused target and carry on from there….
How?
Stage 1 – Green, cheap/free electricity for the village.
Instead of receiving piecemeal grants from the wind farm companies I think we should be more ambitious.
We should either ask for funds for a wind turbine, or for an actual turbine to be donated to the community– and we should generate our own electricity. It seems it is very do-able, and has met with much enthusiasm.
I have talked with the following agencies and in all cases met with enthusiastic support, excitement and offers of help:-
Community Windpower Ltd ,(Aikengall Community Windfarm )
-They can provide technical and funding help and advice, and possibly ‘in kind’ help.
Community Energy Scotland
-They provide funding and technical support to community income-generating projects. Grants are also available to enable them to become constituted.
The Be Green energy Advice Project in Dunbar
-Can provide a free energy audit team, advice on grants and funding etc.
Sustaining Dunbar which covers Dunbar and East Linton Ward of East Lothian.
East Lothian Council. Cllr Paul Mclennan is very keen to be involved.
What’s needed?
1.Gain the support of everyone in the village.
2. A small focus group of 3/4 people, which I would be willing to facilitate, with a variety of relevant skills to take this forward - including admin, technical, business and environmental skills.
3. An energy audit on all households.
4. Money/turbine(s)
5. A site
5. A ‘not for profit’ company to administer the scheme.
LAND…
A conversation with Jim Wyllie produced some interesting ideas….
For example, he currently has a planning application in process for a single small turbine on his land to provide energy for his business.
He is interested in the idea and could offer a possible deal –
The community could raise the money via grants etc to build a bigger turbine than the one he was going to, so that the cost is split. The appropriate percentage output would go to him in respect of the site rental and the rest to the community energy company.
This is just one idea, but this one would provide obvious benefit to both parties – from his point of view, this way it may be more acceptable to the planners, and from the community's point of view, it provides a site.
TIMING…
I think it would be possible to set up this initial stage well within 2 years.
This means that even if we went no further, this would be an achievement in itself.
STAGE 2: possibilities for the future…
•District heating scheme for Stenton?
•……an "anaerobic digester" …to generate electricity and hot water for heating... at Ruchlaw Produce Company’ …. news.stv.tv Sept 09
•Electric car pool?
•Extending the allotments scheme – land-share scheme?
•Woodchip heating? Etc….
Ettie is happy for people to ring or drop round to chat about it or ask questions (850712) (ettie@crossingtheline.org.uk)
The presentation was very well received at the AGM and 99% of the people who attended are keen to pursue this matter. Ettie is looking to set up a small focus group to investigate further so anyone who is willing to offer their assistance please also contact Ettie on the above number.
