Somerset churches go green despite FIT cut

Published on Wednesday, Dec 14 2011 by David Sanderson

Despite the slash to the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) subsidies implemented by the government this week, over 600 public buildings across Somerset are forging ahead with renewable energy schemes.

Churches, vicarages and schools across Somerset which were keen to cut their carbon footprint and save money on power bills have long been in discussion regarding solar panels and other green energy schemes.

Now, despite the fact that they may well have to cope with a funding shortfall due to the FIT pay-out reductions, they are pressing ahead with plans to install solar panels.

The dioceses of Gloucester, Bath, Wells and Exeter teamed up to create Eco Church South West, an organisation which linked with Stroud-based energy supplier Ecotricity to help make the energy usage of faith buildings such as churches, church halls and vicarages greener.

‘Gods’s gift of energy,’ as solar panel arrays are described by the body, can be utilised by many of these buildings and will help in numerous ways, from lowering power costs to contributing to a greener future.

Before 12 December, those who had installed solar panel arrays and sold energy back to the national grid, were offered 43p per kilowatt hour. However, that has now been cut to just 21p, a move which renewables body Regen South West has said could have a ‘crushing blow’ on the region’s low carbon economy.

In Exeter, six churches have almost finished the installation of their solar panel arrays. St. Mark’s looks set to be the first to the finish line, and there are 12 further parsonages and 20 other churches also considering installing the green energy.

Another 300 churches, 100 vicarages and 200 schools located all across the South West are also said to be actively considering the idea of solar, and have already signed up to be included in the scheme.

Director of the Council for Church and Society and the Diocese of Exeter, Martyn Goss, told This is Somerset, that, whilst some churches had aimed to install their solar arrays before the initial cut-off FIT date of April this year, many had now managed to complete them in time once the deadline was pushed back to 12 December.

However, whilst the cuts will make things more challenging, he added that the ‘main thrust of the campaign was not to make money, but to reduce the carbon footprint of churches, and so installation was still worthwhile,’ the newspaper reported.

“We want to take God’s gift of energy and offer it back in a way that does not damage the environment,” Mr Goss told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, The Bishop of Exeter, said that he very much hoped that more parishes would sign up to the solar campaign and, in doing so, help to reduce their carbon footprint.

“This is a thoroughly worthwhile opportunity to set up viable and substantial projects to harness some of the amazing and God-given power of daylight and reduce our dependence on burning fossil fuels,” he told the newspaper.

To find out more information about the ways in which solar energy can be used, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.