Over 70 local people, community groups, businesses and energy experts came together on the evening of Tuesday 4th February, despite the weather, for Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) first public meeting.
The evening started with networking and then ECOE’s eight directors introduced the vision ECOE has for how community-owned renewable energy projects can benefit Exeter, its people and the environment. By addressing resource depletion, climate chaos and fuel poverty, ECOE’s first project – Solar PV 1 – offers community-led practical action that achieve sustainable, low-carbon alternatives.
ECOE very much wants to be community-led, and four small group sessions
- Involving the local community and optimising benefits
- Choosing suitable roofs
- How can we make ECOE’s decision-making be truly democratic?
- Our Future Projects
gave everybody a chance to play a part in shaping the project. Much longer could have been spent in the small groups.There’s more information in the February newsletter and ways of developing these conversations.
We’ve had some great feedback about the event.
“ Well done again to you and your team for such a brilliant event. It was one of the most inspiring, well organised and attended community events I have been to – thank you very much” .(Jodie Giles Regen SW Communities Project manager)
“ I am very excited about it. It has huge potential.”
(Nicola Beglin, volunteer)
“ Interesting meeting, and fantastic to get so many people on such a foul night: shows the level of interest. ” (Peter Nickol)
“ At a time when it’s sometimes hard not to be overtaken by those dangerous twins, outrage and despair, ECOE is an inspiration and rekindles a sense of hope and possibility.” (Margaret Turner, volunteer)
“ Thank you and congratulations to you and all your co-directors on a great meeting last night. It was inspirational, involving and informative. Wonderful. ” (Andrew Lovering)
