Member Article

Funding fuels social enterprise's green ambition

Lower energy bills, cleaner fuel and income for local communities could be on the horizon if a North East business with environmental objectives meets it goals. Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) is a social enterprise covering the North East which works with the voluntary and community sector to develop renewable energy systems. Now they have received backing to allow communities to play a bigger role in the efforts against climate change.

One NorthEast has just announced that they will invest £377,000 to support the CoRE Social Enterprise Team deliver a three year £2m national pilot community renewable energy project, giving a boost to the North East’s growing environmental sector. CoRE’s aim is to provide communities with sustainable, reliable energy supplies and to generate income for local people and projects.

David Miliband, MP for South Shields, said: “I still take a great interest in how we can tackle Climate Change – and how we as a region can lead the way. CoRE have developed ideas and thoughts, their recent funding announcement will allow them to look at local renewable options to tackle this problem.”

Margaret Fay, Chairman of One NorthEast, said: “Developing new approaches to energy generation and management is both a vital need and an opportunity for the region. Many of the new sustainable energy technologies can be effectively taken forward at the community level. By supporting CoRE we are seeking to enable communities to develop new approaches and strengths, contributing to their own, the North East’s and the UK’s well being.”

Keith Richardson, Chair of CoRE said: “We know that energy prices are rising substantially in response to both growing demand and a growing awareness that we are nearing the end of usable oil reserves. Communities who have tackled these problems across Europe have generated substantial incomes and reduced their energy bills too. This is yet to happen in the UK and we want the North East to lead the way.”

For further information visit the CoRE website at www.core.coop.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .