Preston residents who have been struggling to pay their energy bills could benefit from a new scheme that will also generate clean power in the city.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that CEP is close to reaching the number of roofs required to launch the scheme. The volunteer group has approached colleges, housing associations, businesses and churches in order to find suitable sites.Now, community investors are being sought to buy shares in the scheme in order to cover the upfront costs of installing the equipment.
It is hoped that the initiative – similar versions of which have been successfully rolled out by community groups elsewhere in the UK – will bring three-fold benefits that will encompass the building owners, under-pressure Preston households and the broader environment. “As local people concerned about climate change, we are committed to increasing the supply of clean, low-cost energy and to helping those facing fuel poverty. [This] is a great way to achieve both these goals,” he explained.