Climate Challenge Fund
Thu., September 18, 2008. 15:20.
Climate Challenge Fund awards £343,750 to clean energy fund in Cardenden
The first full round of projects to be backed by the Climate Challenge Fund were announced today (1), with more than £700,000 being awarded to 14 projects across Scotland. These grants include £343,750 to support an innovative combined heat and power biomass scheme proposed for Cardenden by Renew, a cooperative energy company, working in partnership with the Ore Valley Housing Association. (2)
The Climate Challenge Fund, which is scheduled to provide £18.8m in funding over the next three years, was proposed by the Scottish Greens during the 2007 election, and adopted by the Scottish Government as part of the budget negotiations earlier this year. (3)
Visiting the site of the Cardenden combined heat and power project today, Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"A third of a million pounds will help this project bring clean affordable energy to people in Cardenden, helping to keep their fuel bills down and at the same time helping to tackle climate change. It's a great honour to be able to come here today and see local people starting to turn the vision we had for the Climate Challenge Fund into reality.
"Community-led projects like this will blaze a trail for others across Scotland and beyond, serving as a test-bed for new ideas and new ways of working. Beating climate change is the most urgent challenge we all face, and communities, businesses, individuals and government will all have to play their part, just as Cardenden is today."
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said:
"I am hugely encouraged by the wide range of innovative proposals put forward through this first round of awards, including the Cardenden combined heat and power biomass scheme. This community-led project will bring wider social and economic benefits to improve the quality of life of people in Fife.
"The Climate Challenge Fund is part of an exciting new era for community empowerment. I look forward to seeing the results of this project in making a real difference to our environment both locally and globally."
Andrew Saunders, Director of Ore Valley Housing Association, said:
"We are delighted to have received this support. It's a real boost for the people of Cardenden. And great news for the environment too. Local people have given strong support for this project. It will mean the community will own and control its own local energy system and won't be dependent any more on imported gas.
"The timing of this project is just right as gas and electricity prices have gone through the roof – and it is likely that we haven't seen the last of these increases. Our aim is for Cardenden to show the way for communities across Scotland to take control of their energy future."
Notes
1. Further information about the full range of awards made today has been issued in a separate release from the Scottish Government:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/09/17112830
2. Information about Renew can be found on their website at: http://www.renewenergy.coop
3. To find out more about the Climate Challenge Fund, including advice on how to apply, visit: http://climatechallengefund.org
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.