Green-minded residents in Leominster are determined that a renewable energy project will go ahead – and be the first of its kind in the country.
Leominster Enterprise Park is the favoured location for the first community-owned and operated anaerobic digester in Britain.
Profits from the proposed plant will be ploughed back to boost the local economy, campaigners heard at a public meeting at the Royal Oak.
Eighty people attended the event chaired by long-time Green campaigner Felicity Norman.
Townpeople will be invited to buy shares in the co-operative project which is getting start-up help from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
A bid is also being made for European Union funding.
Project LeAD technical spokesman Jay Abrahams described how waste from food businesses and farms will be used to make methane gas to fuel a Combined Heat and Power Plant.
The CHP will generate electricity and heat in the form of hot water, with potential for piping to schools, hospital, leisure centre and industrial and other buildings.
Another useful end-product would be nutrient-rich compost for farmers and gardeners, said Mr Abrahams.
In answer to a question about potential smells, he said: “Unfortunately we are living with a legacy of what people think a digester is because of the problems experienced at Bioganix (near Leominster). But that was an aerobic system and our system is the opposite, anaerobic, which excludes air. Our digester will use a sealed tank.”
Mr Abrahams said the plant would handle 15,000 to 30,000 tonnes of material a year. Input would include food processing waste such as whey from cheese making, waste from cider making and farm silage.
John Halle of the Sharenergy initiative, funded by Advantage West Midlands, said the project would be delivered by Energy4All which had set up seven successful renewable energy projects around the country, mainly focussing onwind power.
He said: “Local people will be able to buy shares and get a dividend on their investment. The return is comparable to a savings account. A lot of people are wondering where to put their money at the moment and this will be a viable and ethical option.”
He urged prospective shareholders to get in touch with project organisers. The meeting heard profits would also be used for a community fund to stimulate other initiatives.
Etty Flanagan of Sharenergy said a feasibility study for the Leominster project was underway. She said the town’sEnterprise Park was the favoured site for the plant and would require planning permission.
LeAD (Leominster Anaerobic Digester) is being led by a steering group consisting of Jay Abrahams, Philippa Roberts and Felicity Norman.
The project is being developed for Towards Transition Leominster, part of the country-wide Transition Town movement. Prospective shareholders can contact LeAD by emailing folley.farm@btinternet.com
