15 December 2006

Microgeneration Yorkshire’s suggestion that people living in Todmorden and the surrounding area should buy into the wind farm proposed by Coronation Power has received a favourable response. More than 30 people attended a meeting in Todmorden Town Hall on Wednesday (13th December) to hear more about the proposal and a majority of those who attended expressed an interest in exploring the option further.

Microgeneration Yorkshire and the Hebden Bridge Alternative Energy Centre had originally raised the idea of people of buying one of the five turbines proposed for Todmorden Moor with Coronation Power, so the meeting was held to gauge the level of interest and to understand the steps that will be required to make the option a reality.

Charley Rattan, Coronation Power’s Community Relations Manager said: “We are very happy to consider community ownership of one of the turbines proposed for Todmorden Moor. Wednesday’s meeting showed that people are keen to share in the benefits of wind farm generation, and all credit must go to Micrgeneration Yorkshire for suggesting this exciting initiative.”

Barnaby Fryer of Microgeneration Yorkshire said: “A second meeting will be held in the New Year to take forward the community ownership proposal. It’s a golden investment opportunity for local people. Similar schemes in other parts of the UK and on the continent have been incredibly successful and there’s every chance that a commercial partnership between local people and Coronation can be just as good.”

If the buy-in proposal is confirmed, it will be in addition to Coronation Power’s Wind Farm Community Fund that will provide financial support to community projects, primarily in the areas of education and environment, for the 25 year life-time of the Todmorden Moor wind farm.

Coronation Power intends to submit planning applications for Todmorden Moor and its other wind farm schemes near Bacup and Wardle in January 2007.

Anyone interested in community share-ownership of Coronation Power’s wind farm should contact either Coronation’s Charley Rattan on 07979 575243 / charley@coronationpower.com or Barnaby Fryer or Nicola Pugh at Microgeneration Yorkshire on 01422 846648 / info@yren.org.uk.

For further information about Coronation Power’s proposals, please visit the Coronation Power website: www.coronationpower.com or contact Charley Rattan, Coronation’s North West Community Relations Manager on 07979 575243.