Two Herefordshire-based projects have been amongst the first to win funding from a new £10m Government scheme to develop local community energy projects. New Leaf and Woolhope Dome Woodfuel Cooperative were recently announced as two of 82 local schemes around the UK to be awarded grants in the first £4 million allocation of the new Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF), with the two projects receiving £120,000 between them.

New Leaf, who have been awarded £60,000, will use the money to support an investigation into the scope for Herefordshire to meet a carbon reduction target in line with the Climate Change Act. Following the successful launch of the solar PV project on the roof of Leominster leisure centre, work will include an exploration of the potential for further community-owned solar and wind energy projects around the county. The project will also develop a scheme to assess and advise on energy efficiency in the county’s homes and community buildings.

Rob Garner of New Leaf commented "We are really excited to have been awarded this bid. Herefordshire and its near neighbours has a huge amount of sustainability expertise and this project is an opportunity to pull it together to make an impact on the county’s high levels of carbon emissions.”

A total of £60,000 was also granted to Woolhope Dome Woodful Cooperative, set up by Fownhope Carbon Reduction Action Group (CRAG), which aims to help businesses, schools and voluntary organisations to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by replacing their heating fuel with local wood chip. For further information about Woolhope Dome Woodfuel Cooperative please visit the website at www.sharenergy.coop/ woolhope.