Three local authorities partner on Solar for Business initiative to help local companies save money on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions
Babergh District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and West Suffolk Council are working together on a new pilot partnership to help local businesses enjoy the advantages solar energy.
Photo by Jadon Kelly / Unsplash
Companies across the region signing up to the Solar for Business scheme to get solar panels provided to and installed at their premises for free. In return, they can buy electricity generated from the panels at a rate lower than their current tariff – reducing energy bills and improving their bottom line.
The scheme has already run successfully for the past nine years in West Suffolk. More than 100 companies have taken part, between them saving an estimated £700,000 and the equivalent 2,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. It’s now being extended to businesses in Barbergh and Mid Suffolk.
To qualify for the scheme, a business must be situated within the district boundaries of one of the participating local authorities. In addition, the business must have minimum electricity consumption of 5,000kWh per year. To find out more about the scheme see Solar for Business on the West Suffolk Council website.
Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, says: ‘This new pilot partnership will help businesses in all three council areas tackle climate change and make savings. It is a great example of councils working together and using our local knowledge and expertise to deliver initiatives tailored for our local businesses. It also is part of our strategic priority for sustainable growth and environmental resilience.’
Cllr Helen Davies, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Nature Recovery and Biodiversity at Babergh District Council, adds: ‘District councils have a strong track record of working in partnership to deliver real results for our businesses and communities. By joining forces with West Suffolk Council to offer the Solar for Business scheme in Babergh we can help businesses to become more energy efficient and save money on their bills. It’s a fantastic way to support the local economy whilst also tackling climate change.’
Cllr Tim Weller, Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture and Well-being at Mid Suffolk District Council, says: ‘We want to help businesses in Mid Suffolk improve their bottom line by cutting energy bills – with the added bonus of reducing our carbon footprint and helping us to achieve our target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Climate change doesn’t recognise boundaries, so I’m delighted to be able to work with our neighbours at West Suffolk Council to deliver this pilot scheme in our district.’
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