BY way of update on the community scale wind turbine project proposals, our public exhibitions (as advertised in the Review) were very well attended and the proposals generally very well received.

Local people understand the need for renewable energy generation and there is a lot of public support for our model which focuses on projects at a scale large enough to make a difference in terms of energy generation, but which minimises the environmental impact compared with larger projects. Combine this with the aims for maximum local economic benefit and the commitment to community investment and the approach makes sense to local people.  

There is also a local appetite for community investment in the projects and the approach, in this respect with FSA authorised agent and arranger Abundance, for the St Briavels turbine has recently been applauded by the Government's Minister for Civil Society. 

We are aware that there is a small anti-lobby for the Lydney proposal but assure that the public exhibition this weekend received a very positive response.  Our visual representations included British Waterway's Sharpness turbine proposal currently in planning for a site opposite Lydney Harbour. As this is a larger turbine it would be visible from a number of locations, yet would not have the same local economic benefits for the Lydney area as our proposals and approach.  

There are also local people who think wind turbines are an attractive feature and have commented that they would be happy to see one at the scale we are proposing even from residential properties with clear views of the site.  There have also been comments from those coming along to find out the facts about the projects, that local people bringing forward local projects at a scale to help meet, but not exceed, local energy demands is preferable to larger developers operating on a more traditional development basis with larger scale projects.  

The opportunity for the local area to receive a meaningful community donation (£15-20k per year for 25 years of operation for each project developed) is also recognised as a welcome feature.

It has been a challenging week for us as following the successful launch of the public debenture investment through FSA agent and arranger Abundance, we have since learned that the preferred turbine supplier for the St Briavels project has entered into the German equivalent of US Chapter 11.  Whilst we have currently been assured by PowerWind that the turbine will still be delivered and installed on schedule, the news is a material change since we launched the prospectus and we have taken steps with Abundance to temporarily suspend the offer until we have full details to evaluate the situation and can communicate fully to the public. 

We have been encouraged by messages of support and new individuals coming forward expressing a desire to invest once the situation is clarified.

– Sue Clarke, The Resilience Centre Ltd.