Blackburn Community Project Receives Funding to Explore Solar Energy for Fuel Poverty Reduction
The St Silas Blackburn Community Energy Project, spearheaded by the Diocese of Blackburn and local partners, has secured nearly £40,000 from the North West Net Zero Hub. This initiative, centered around St Silas Church in Blackburn, Lancashire, aims to investigate how community-owned solar energy can generate clean electricity and directly benefit local organizations and households struggling with rising energy costs. St Silas parish was selected due to its multicultural demographic and a significant fuel poverty rate affecting approximately 20% of households. The project will support a network of local community organizations, including a church, a homeless shelter, alms houses, a primary school, and a food bank, with the goal of establishing a community-owned solar installation that provides both clean power and direct benefits to those most in need. The project's initial phase involves a technical feasibility study to determine the required renewable energy technology and expected energy generation, wit...
