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Newsletter June 2017
Tuesday, 20 June, 2017
It is nearly a year since we produced our last newsletter, following the 2016 AGM, and the remainder of the year was a very busy time for us.
Posted in Updates
Dear Members
It is nearly a year since we produced our last newsletter, following the 2016 AGM, and the remainder of the year was a very busy time for us. We conducted a very successful 3rd share offer in September of 2016 and then commissioned two new major projects by the FIT deadline of September 29th. News of all this is still available on our website (under the Latest News and Press Releases sections). However, we must again pay tribute to our Solar PV supplier, Solarsense UK, who supported us in every way possible to ensure we met the deadlines.
Having pre-accredited and commissioned our new installations at Stanchester Academy in Stoke-sub-Hamdon and Holyrood Academy in Chard, before the relevant deadlines, we thought we could, at last, take a well-deserved rest. However, it was not to be. We understand that there are over 400 Community Energy Societies in Britain and most of them had projects which were commissioned about the same time, which meant that bureaucratic approvals and agreements have taken nearly 9 months to complete. Even so, our efforts were rewarded by SomersetLive who gave us an award for the Best Local Community Group, awarded by Clark’s Shoes of Street.
We are delighted to be able to report that we have now received full accreditation for the above projects. In the case of Holyrood there are still one or two legal agreements to sign, but we are confident that these two projects can successfully be filed as 'complete'.
For the last 12 months, your society has been run by 4 unpaid directors who engage professional help on an as required basis. We have been very fortunate to have had a very competent Administrator since our incorporation, but in November she wanted a long holiday and she also found another, more active job, which more suited her skills. So it has been goodbye and thank you to Gail and welcome to Melissa, who is now monitoring and communicating through [email protected]. Our constitution allows for up to 12 directors. If you have an interest in “Green Energy” and think you can help take the society forward, please consider joining our board. Further information is available from our founder member, director and secretary, John Clark through [email protected] or our company address on www.sscom.energy.
During 2016, we helped our friends at Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) to advertise and raise £5million to bring part of the Crewkerne Solar Array into Community Ownership. BWCE now have 12 months of operating data from this array and have indicated that we will be offered an opportunity to buy into this project next year. Also, our PV supplier, Solarsense UK, considers that 30 KVA systems can be made economically viable. Additionally, we are currently evaluating Solar PV and Solar Tubes for local swimming pools. All these issues, and optimising our existing installations, will be on our agenda for a board meeting after the AGM.
Our accounts are complete for the year to December 31s,t 2016 and will be sent to the auditor this week. The Directors will be proposing at the AGM that 6% interest should be paid to members.
You should already have received notification of our second AGM. It will take place at the newly refurbished WESTLAND LEISURE COMPLEX, at Westbourne Close, off Westbourne Grove, Yeovil, BA20 2DD. It is well signposted by Brown Tourist Signs. The meeting will take place at 13.30 pm to 15.30pm in Wheeldon Committee Room 1. Light refreshments are available from the bar. We hope to see many of you there.
Thank you for your continued support. Please contact us in the normal way if you have any questions.
With our very best wishes
David Rabone
Founder Member and Hon.Treasurer
20th June 2017
