The UK’s first Green Party led-council, Brighton and Hove, is bringing about a green energy revolution. Green councillors there are instigating the installation of solar electricity panels on dozens of council buildings and schools, plus 1,600 homes. And at the same time, Torbay Council – not hitherto known for its green credentials – has agreed to install solar panels on 45 of its council buildings.
Exeter’s Green Party has long argued for similar investment in solar energy, calling for solar panels to be installed on Exeter City Council-owned buildings, and describing this as a win, win, win solution.
Such investment, the Green Party argues, would provide free electricity, reduce energy costs and generate income by exporting excess electricity to the national grid. The investment would also create jobs and help move Exeter towards becoming a low carbon city say the Exeter’s Greens.
Rouben Freeman from Exeter Green Party said: “It is fantastic to see these kinds of initiatives being put into practice.
“The ambition shown by the Brighton and Hove administration is an inspiration. These policies do not simply cut carbon emissions but they can make a real difference to people’s lives. They will cut council and residents energy costs and help tackle fuel poverty, encourage jobs, develop skills and support innovation. Brighton and Hove are showing us that Green Party’s positive solutions can become reality.
“The question is why can we not do the same in Exeter?”
That question is strengthened further by Torbay’s solar scheme, which plans to install photovoltaic (PV) systems on the roofs of up to 45 public buildings, including schools and council offices.
Other tenants have also expressed interest in the project, which is expected to save £640,000 in electricity costs, based on current electricity prices, and save nearly 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the programme.
Cllr David Thomas, Torbay’s deputy mayor and executive lead for Energy, said: “Torbay or the English Riviera as it is known is one of the best places in the country to make use of solar energy. Community schools and Torbay Council currently pay over £1-million a year on their electricity bills.
“This ‘invest to save’ scheme will save money for schools, tenants and the council, and will generate income of up to £1.5-million for the people of Torbay, while also reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
“Carbon reduction targets both for the council and the Torbay area as a whole are challenging.
“The expected carbon savings from the project represent 18% of the annual savings for Torbay Council, as required in the Local Authority Carbon Management Plan.”
• Teignbridge was getting ready to put up a solar panel on its Forde House council building on April 1 and is now ready to proceed in the second week in September
(image: Solar Energy System 
Some rights reserved by Jeremy Levine Design)
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