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Kirklees Council plans to create a 'solar village'
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Kirklees Council has boosted its aim to become a "beacon" eco-friendly council by investing £170,000 in four renewable energy projects.
Plans include development of sites across the Kirklees area for hydro-electricity generation; development work on the heating, cooling and electricity network scheme; solar plumbing and electrical training; and renewable energy installations in council houses.
An initial £100,000 will be spent on a town-wide heating network in Huddersfield, though £1.2m has been approved over three years, while £25,000 is going towards PV panels for 30 properties at a "solar village" in the Almondsbury area of the town.
Another £35,000 is to be spent on training plumbers and electricians at the Build Centre in Dewsbury to provide them with new "green" skills such as installing solar panels, while the remaining £10,000 will be spent on the overall development of sites in Kirklees for hydro-electricity generation.
A district heating scheme will require separate cash but Phil Webber, head of the council's environment unit, said he is "optimistic" the authority will get the investment after negotiations with key parties.
The projects are part of the council's wider programme to promote and protect the environment.
Councillor Martyn Bolt, cabinet member responsible for green initiatives, said: "Being seen as a beacon 'green' council is one of the council's four key ambitions, and we have a robust and innovative programme to support that.
"In the long term, investment in renewable energy projects will be more than self-financing as well as being good for the environment.
"The specific investment on these particular projects is a follow on from investment already made.
"For example, the renewable energy investment in council houses will enable Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing to add another 30 houses in the Fernside estate at Almondbury to the 100 already benefiting from solar energy."
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