From Left: Sarah Macbeth (ESC) at the Bridge Centre with participants in a solar panel making workshop, part of the 1066 Local Campaign in Ore (Solar!) Valley

Sunshine to power Hastings to 2066

Amazing energy innovation for Hastings and St Leonards. The 1066 Local Energy campaign is about to be launched. A campaign by local organisations to turn homes, businesses and churches into mini green power stations to keep energy prices affordable begins at the Stade on 10 September 10 2017 with The Big Happy Sun Day. The campaign will also launch a new community energy tariff that offers better deals to those on prepay meters and a green energy tariff to support local groups. 

“Hastings is one of the sunniest towns in the UK”, explains Kate Meakin, Energise Sussex Coast’s campaign manager “ The Solar Feed in Tariffs come to an end in 18 months so it is now or never for getting more solar panels installed and using our free sunshine to help us change the way we use energy.”

The Big Happy Sun Day event at the Stade is aimed at children and parents and anyone interested in solar power and energy efficiency – and is about making the new energy future fun, exciting and challenging. It boasts a Tesla electric car, the world’s smallest solar powered cinema, solar boat making, toy car racing, cycle powered smoothies, children’s art activities, exhibition stands, lots of giveaways and a chance to sign up to the new sunshine tariffs.

Energise Sussex Coast, Citizens Advice 1066, the Seaview Charity and the Diocese of Chichester are just some of the organisations co-ordinating the campaign with an invitation to all local businesses, schools and other organisations in the region to help us reach the 1066 solar roof target.

“Energy is changing as fast as the phone market once did. Smart electricity grids using local power and battery storage are the future,” says Energise Sussex Coast’s Director, Richard Watson. “So if we generate our own power locally we can keep future energy prices in our own hands.”

For Tracy Dighton, CEO of Citizens Advice 1066, this campaign is for everyone in the town and across the region. She feels it is vital to make sure that the most vulnerable don’t get left behind by new technologies. “This fits perfectly with the SHINE project in St Leonards where we are helping people in 500 households to make their homes warmer and healthier.”

Big Happy Sun Day

For campaign details, please contact Kate Meakin Kate@energisesussexcoast.co.uk
Press Contacts : Richard Watson 07854 951325 richard@energisesussexcoast.co.uk
Tracy Dighton 07802724259 tracydighton@citizensadvice1066.co.uk

Energise Sussex Coast (ESC)

ESC is a not for profit, grant funded, social enterprise established to address fuel poverty in Hastings and Rother through the promotion of energy efficiency programmes and renewable energy generation.

Climate Active Neighbourhoods (CAN)

The EU funded CAN project in Ore helps residents save money by reducing their energy bills and tackles climate change by reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency improvements and generating local renewable energy. A solar community tariff is part of the scheme involving Energise Sussex Coast, Hastings Borough Council and Social Housing Provider Optivo (formerly Amicus Horizon).

Citizens Advice 1066

Last year alone Citizens Advice 1066 helped 4,870 people across Hastings and Rother to find solutions to over 17,000 problems. The bureau’s success is down to the hard work of a team of committed volunteers and staff, and the generosity of its supporters.

The Seaview Project

Seaview serves the needs of people feeling on the edge of society for a variety of reasons: homelessness, addictions, mental health issues and other long term conditions. Last year Seaview served the needs of 1381 individuals, 221 of whom were rough sleeping, and had 15,331 direct contacts ranging from support with access to other services to providing intensive support. Receiving an appropriate energy tariff can make an enormous difference for those living on very limited means.

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