RESIDENTS encouraged to find out more about how they can join an existing local energy group or start their own.

To celebrate Community Energy Fortnight earlier this month, Essex County Council is showcasing Community Energy groups across the county.

The council is encouraging residents who are interested in learning how they can join an existing local energy group or start their own to attend a webinar on Monday 29 July.

Community Energy gives communities democratic control over the future of their energy. It does this by giving communities the chance to understand, generate, use, own and save energy, whilst collaborating with other Community Energy projects regionally and nationally.

Running from 1 to 14 July, Community Energy Fortnight was run nationwide by Community Energy England and showcased the work taking place within the community energy sector. The theme of this year’s campaign was ’empowerment’.

For its work on Community Energy, Essex County Council won the ‘Supportive Local Authority’ category at the 2023 Community Energy Awards.

Essex County Council has worked closely with Community Energy South to support 19 Community Energy groups and other community-based environmental action groups in the county, including:

Tollesbury Climate Partnership
Colchester Community Energy
Saffron Walden Community Energy
Sustainable Danbury
Littlebury Energy Project
Maldon and Heybridge Community Energy
Brightlingsea Community Energy
Jaywick Community Energy
Harlow Community Energy
Colne Valley Community Energy Project
Elsenham Eagles Community Energy
Hadstock Community Energy
Sustainable Stansted
Wicken Bonhunt Community Energy
Eco Thaxted
APACE (Ardleigh)
PACE Manningtree
Transition Town Clacton
Dengie Earth Matters
The development of the Community Energy sector is helping Essex reach its net zero objectives while also working to make clean energy cheaper and more accessible for Essex residents.

In addition to environmental benefits, Community Energy projects also help lower energy bills for residents.

Empowering communities to take action on climate change is at the forefront of Essex County Council’s £250 million Climate Action Plan.

Essex County Council Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Councillor Peter Schwier said: “I am incredibly pleased with how successful Community Energy has been in Essex so far.

“Essex County Council recognises the importance of making renewable energy more accessible and more affordable for Essex residents. Community Energy has proved to be an effective way in reducing our impact on the environment and lowering energy bills.

“We will continue to support Community Energy projects and look for new, innovative ways to help Essex residents with their energy bills.”

Residents can register to attend the Community Energy in Essex virtual event on Monday 29 July, 5pm to 6pm.

A new energy hub is also launching in Jaywick on Tuesday 27 August to help ease the pressure of energy costs for residents.

The council’s progress on net zero targets can be found in the Essex Climate Action Annual Reports.