Renewable Power Pembrokeshire (RPP), a not-for-profit community benefit society, have closed their community share offer for their wind turbine in East Williamsons, South Pembrokeshire after a successful campaign to attract investors and generate interest in the project.

The 900kW wind turbine was constructed in 2020 in East Williamston, and is generating energy. It is producing clean renewable electricity and income from the Feed in Tariff.

RPP Director Roxanne Treacy said: “We are so pleased to have attracted so much interest in the turbine and successfully sold shares. The main reason for people wanting to be involved with this project has been to help address climate change.  Investors who have bought shares are part of a practical response to the climate emergency. 
"Buying a share in the turbine also means they are supporting this community led renewable energy project and will also benefit from a green financial investment. The Turbine will also help the local community with a community fund being generated to benefit local schools and projects.”

Any surplus funds generated by the turbine will be used to establish a community fund. The amount will depend on how the turbine performs, but the society will consult with members and with the local community to determine how this should be spent, with the overall intention to benefit communities in the South-East of Pembrokeshire. RPP have gifted £3000 for community benefit as a goodwill gesture during the first year of operation between the following:

St Florence Primary School
Sageston Primary School
Jefferston Primary School
East Williamston Community
Manor Park Wildlife Park


The turbine site at Prouts Park Farm, East Williamston, was identified through a screening process funded by PLANED in 2009. The landowner agreed a concessionary rate of rent for a community turbine, and since then considerable technical work has been undertaken by Seren Energy Limited, partly funded by Seren and partly by the Welsh Government's Ynni'r Fro, Ynni Lleol and Welsh Government Energy Service Programmes. Assistance with the community share offer was provided by Sharenergy. 

Our community Share Offer for the East Williamston turbine is now open.

​To find out more, click here

CEP are currently recruiting for 3 Project Officers for the Local Energy Action Force project.

​We are not seeking renewable energy experts for these roles - we want to bring new people with a passion for the place they live into the sector, and enable them to act alongside members of their community, and the project will invest significantly in those individuals through training and development.

To find out more, click here

 We were delighted this week to receive a grant offer letter for the full amount of LEADER funding requested from Arwain Sir Benfro for our Local Energy Action Force proposal.

Local Energy Action Force (LEAF) is initially funded for 18 months. 

The key objective is to invest in people - principally a cohort of around 20, across five communities - St Davids, Tiers Cross, the cluster of Milford Haven, Hubberston and Hakin, the village of Tavernspite and a community of 39 dwellings at LLanteg Park.

These places offer very different energy challenges.  The cohort of volunteers will be supported by:

1.  A steering group of delivery partners including Pembrokeshire College, PAVS, Marine Energy Wales, PLANED, SPECIFIC (Swansea University) and Welsh Government Energy Service
2. 2 days per week of project manager time, and 9 days per week of project officer time.  Project Officers envisaged as a team of 3, ideally located across the five community's in terms of geography
3. A series of capacity building days delivered by the above partners, tailored to the skill needs (technical, governance, engagement and finance) of the cohort
4. A series of visits to projects and sites delivering sustainable energy solutions, and open more widely to members of the public
5. Resource for a series of community events in each community and as a growing Pembrokeshire network
6. Technical support with potential for feasibility grants for projects from Welsh Government Energy Service

The objective is to develop teams of people in local communities with the right skills and support to identify and develop sustainable energy projects for local people to own, operate, and buy energy from.  Keeping bills down and money local as well as meeting the challenges of climate change.

We will be keeping you up to date with project progress via the LEAF page on this site and our social media channels.

FREE EVENT: Come and join us to find out about sustainable energy opportunities in Pembrokeshire and how you can get involved!
Speakers will include Transition Bro Gwaun, Arwain Sir Benfro 2020 and Cwm Arian Renewable Energy
Regency Hall, Saundersfoot 6.30 - 9pm Tuesday 9th May
Book your place now: http://bit.ly/2ovkaCr

Please help and support our appeal by going to: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/CaseSearch.aspx

Enter the number 3149977 and hit 'Search' at the bottom of the page.

Click on 'Documents' then 'Make a Representation' at the top right hand of the following page to complete the form with your comments and help us bring community energy to Pembrokeshire.

Alternatively, you can use the template letter below:

Community Energy in Pembrokeshire (CEP) are asking the public to show their support for an exciting new renewable energy project that could provide community benefit for Pembrokeshire of £2m over 20 years.
 
CEP, a not for profit Community Interest Company, have put in an application for a wind power project in East Williamston that has been recommended for consent by a senior planning officer.
 
Councillors will be carrying out a site visit in the next few weeks before the application goes back before the council’s planning committee for a final decision.
 
Robert Proctor of Community Energy Wales, wrote in support of the project:
“At a time when many community and social amenities are facing severe cuts, the harnessing of energy and revenue from community schemes such as this could be a vital element in safeguarding community activities.
 
Most importantly it will be a locally owned asset that empowers the local community to have a greater understanding of where their energy comes from and enables them to take control of their future as they become more resilient to outside forces such as fuel prices that are out of their control.”

Please show your support by visiting the council’s online Planning Portal as soon as possible: http://bit.ly/1Jz4r7Q 

From there you will see all of the project information and be able to leave your comments. In the ‘Role Code’ box enter ‘consultee’.

Alternatively, you can email the Planning Officer, [email protected] quoting the application number: 15/0376/PA 

You may find the template letter here useful if you are short of time.

Many thanks in advance,

Neil Sefton,
Chair