£430k community project to be unveiled

Newtown is set to be at the leading edge of clean and renewable energy when plans are unveiled tonight (Tuesday) for a community owned hydro generator to be built on the outskirts of the town.

 

Newtown2020, an organisation aiming to turn Newtown into a ‘green’ superpower, is signing a 40-year agreement with British Waterways to lease Penarth Weir (right) and a feasibility study has shown that the community-led project could generate up to £100k of revenue a year.

 

Plans will be unveiled tonight for the £430k hydro generator and providing there are no hiccups along the way, work could commence in the summer of 2012.

 

“The exclusive agreement with British Waterways is crucial because, without this, other developers could have stepped in at any point to exploit the weir,” said Jeremy Thorp, a spokesperson for Newtown2020 which is developing the groundbreaking project in close co-ordination with the Environmental Agency and is consulting other concerned parties, including the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Potteries Angling Association.

 

“An initial feasibility last year suggested a 100kW turbine would be viable,” explained Mr Thorp. “This would cost in the region of £430k and produce about £80k - £100k of revenue. We now have funding through the Ynn'r Fro programme (WAG fund for helping community owned renewable generation projects) to do a more detailed feasibility study, and are just in the process of signing a contract with British Waterways to have the exclusive development rights if the detailed feasibility comes out with a positive outcome.”

 

The scheme has received the initial backing from both the Powys and Town councils and will send a clear message that the town is willing to play a lead role on the war against climate change.