HUNDREDS of people from West Devon and Torridge attended a renewable energy exhibition at Winkleigh last Saturday. The event, hosted by local MP Geoffrey Cox, was designed to demonstrate that rural communities could embrace practical, local initiatives that would solve the problem of generating clean energy in the countryside. The village hall was filled to capacity as Mr Cox spoke of the need to empower individuals and local communities to take energy production into their own hands. The alternative, he said, would be an increasing number of centrally imposed plans for large-scale commercial generators, over which local residents would have little or no say. South West manufacturers provided exhibits on a range of technologies, including biodiesel, hydro-power, solar, small scale wind, biomass and anaerobic digestion systems. Panellists for the afternoon?s question and answer session included Nick Buckland, vice-chairman of the South West Regional Development Agency, as well as members of the Devon Association for Renewable Energy, in conjunction with whom the event had been arranged. Topics included support and funding, energy efficiency and sustainable housing. Mr Cox said the response had been overwhelming: ?There is a high level of interest in the issue, clearly demonstrated by the size of the turnout. ?The Government can and should do much more to promote micro-generation technologies. We must overhaul the regulatory framework and planning policies and we must offer investment and incentives to encourage the industry to grow.? RIGHT: Geoffrey Cox MP (third left) with Bill Johnson, of Earthenergy, Paul Baker, managing director of DARE and David Lausen. Picture by Ian Snell