Power to the People
Imagine making money from wind water, sunshine amd manure? This is exactly what Dunblane did through an exciting project exploring the potential of community owned renewable energy generation withintheir community. Working alongside our partner, Land Use Consultants, we undertook a feasibility study, organised community participation events and proposed practical schemes to make ideas happen.
In December 2010 Sustainable Dunblane apointed Alan Caldwell Associates and Land Use Consultants to explore the potential for community owned renewable energy generation in the Community Council area. Both the local Development Trust and Community Council were interested in this both as a way of contributing to efforts to tackle climate change and as a way of generating funds to reinvest in the community. The study aimed to:
- Actively engage all sections of the community in a participatory process.
- Inform the community as to the options and potential of embracing renewable energy.
- Produce a 'Renewables Development Map' of the Community Council area recording appropriate and inappropriate locations for renewables.
- Record other relevant development issues on the map.
- Openly discuss findings with the community and partner organisations.
- Prepare a guide to the next steps and implementation of a 'Renewables Development Plan' that could engage with the statutory planning process.
In addition to the technical feasibilty study we produced regular newsletters , a travelling exhibition and organised a major participation event in the Cathedral Hall.
