A JOINT project exploring potential renewable energy schemes in the area for the benefit of the community has taken a step forward after a firm has been chosen to carry out the project's feasibility study.

There is currently the opportunity for Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to take advantage of a grant from government for a feasibility study to explore renewable energy initiatives across Okehampton and its outskirts. The two councils have joined forces to invite tenders from specialist consultants to undertake the study and have now selected DARE, a local company based in North Tawton, to carry out the work.

Cllr Derek Webber, chairman of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council, said: 'We are delighted to have selected a local company with the expertise to help us develop a local renewable energy.

'People in Okehampton pay millions of pounds a year in energy bills, all of which is lost to the local economy.

'A locally-owned energy co-operative can start to reverse this, attracting money into the area for the electricity we generate.'

The study will assess the potential renewable energy resource in the area, focusing on hydropower and roof-mounted solar PV panels on commercial and community buildings.

DARE will talk to landowners and businesses to see what potential sites might be used for such projects and also work with the community to see if they are interested in forming an energy co-operative to own any renewable installations, using any profit for the benefit of people living in the two councils' areas.

The councils are now working with DARE to apply to the Rural Community Energy Fund to secure funding for the project.

The application will be completed by the end of January and a decision is hoped for six weeks later. Once the funds have been approved the working group will meet to oversee the work.

Okehampton town councillor Tony Leech said: 'We are very keen for people to take part in this exciting new project. We will hold a public meeting once our funding has been approved and in the meantime we invite anyone who would like to become involved to contact us.'

The project is looking for interested landowners, working group members, community represen-tatives and potential investors.

If you would like to be added to a mailing list, or to take a more active role in the project, please contact Okehampton's town clerk Paul Snell through email at [email protected]">[email protected] or by calling 01837 53179, or Okehampton Hamlets' parish clerk Jane Gillard by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or by calling 01837 55728.