A FORMER Tavistock College student will be one of the main seminar speakers at the Energy Awareness Show in Tavistock Methodist Church on Saturday, March 10. Pete Johnston, who was born and educated in Tavistock and left the college in 1999, now works for the Waterman Group as an energy consultant specialising in the delivery of low carbon energy advice. The opening speech will be by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, and a member of the Select Committee on Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The first seminar starts at 2pm and will put forward an overview of global warming and the worldwide energy crisis. The second seminar is led by Richard Pymm, of Devon Association of Renewable Energy, on the various options available to overcome the energy issues facing us. The seminars accompany a one-day exhibition of companies who represent the major sustainable energy strategies for homes and small businesses. There will also be information on grants and planning strategies. The exhibition starts at 11am. Methodist Church minister the Rev Jeff Moles said he was pleased the church was involved in such an important issue. 'We have a responsibility to God to live in such a way that our use of energy doesn't adversely affect others in the world. Jesus' message of transformation has both a personal and a global impact.' Mr Cox said he was 'delighted' to participate in the event: 'Micro-generation is a vitally important way in which individuals can assume responsibility to tackle the problem of global warming while at the same time saving on the exorbitant fuel costs which rural households frequently have to bear. 'The greater the interest, the less expensive these technologies will become and it is only if we can make the technologies genuinely accessible to ordinary households that we will see the popular engagement in the cause of renewable energy that we need.' The event is supported by West Devon Borough Council and the Energy Saving Trust 'Save Your 20%' Campaign.
