Energy Action Group

Draft Brampton Energy Plan

The overall aims of the Energy Generation Plan are:

• To make a step change in reducing the community's carbon footprint
• To be carbon neutral and work towards being carbon negative
• To supply energy locally and reduce transmission costs and loss
• To secure energy production and supply for the community
• To provide benefit for the community

We hope to achieve these aims by changing people’s habitual behaviour about energy and ensure that the community benefits financially from its use of electricity whether it is from the grid or from local renewable energy generation. The plan now includes the formation of an energy supply company (Brampton Electric) from which individuals and communities would purchase all their power (be it from the grid or from local renewable energy generation schemes) at discounted rates. The plan describes the import, export and balancing mechanisms for power and how the pricing regime would be used to benefit both consumers and generators, with surplus profits being ploughed back into the community.

Green Electricity Tariff Leaflet

We have put together a leaflet to advise householders of the green tariffs available, which is being distributed on request and through the Reach-Out Group.

Local Energy Generation

Much land around Brampton is currently owned by Carlisle City Council. If transferred to the community it could offer potential for a number of community owned renewable energy projects. Assuming community support, potential uses include:

• Low impact wind energy extraction
• Biomass production (through coppiced willow or poplar plantations) to grow materials suitable to supply a District heating system.
• Field scale food production and less formal food growing, perhaps linked with the market garden scheme.
• An algal biomass experiment to exploit the potential of a pond to grow large quantities of organic fuel to convert into either heat or electrical energy.
• Demonstration of permaculture growing and harvesting techniques.
• An anaerobic digestion plant (we envisage a cooperative partnership). Crops suitable for conversion into biodiesel (on a limited scale for use by community transport).

No further progress on this project can be made until issues of ownership and transfer have been resolved with the City Council. Funding will then be sought potentially from the Energy Saving Trust’s Community Action for Energy and Rural Development Programmes (or others) to undertake an initial technical appraisal of the land for these potential purposes.

Green Communities

The group is continuing to make significant progress in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust. Brampton has qualified as a Green Community and will be continuing its campaign in conjunction with the EST to conduct energy audits across the area of benefit to offer low cost insulation and publicise micro-generation opportunities for householders which could also provide economically worthwhile income from renewable energy technologies.

ENERGY SAVING INITIATIVE IN CUMBRIA

If you are interested in installing energy saving measures in your home then you should browse the Cumbria Affordable Warmth Project website (www.cumbriawarmhomes.org.uk) which contains a wealth of useful information and advice as well as the offer of a free energy check.  Please contact the Energy Action Group if you have any other questions about energy saving or energy generation.