Energy in Your Community helps local people explore the possibilities of community-owned renewable energy together. We can guide you from first interest in renewable energy, through technical fact-finding and how to manage a project if you choose to go ahead. Whatever your community decides, any work is always at your pace, and always with local people in control.
How we're working with your area
This community conversation supports the communities of Peasedown, Wellow and Shoscombe. It builds on ideas first explored in 2022, when local people joined a workshop about community‑owned renewable energy. Thanks to new funding, we can now continue exploring these ideas with the community.
At every stage of the conversation with us, your community stays in control. You:
- learn about what's possible, and what's feasible
- lead on decision-making throughout
This is a community-led process. Local people have helped identify ideas and locations, and community feedback will inform decisions about whether any of these should be explored further.
Progress so far
We have made good progress in our conversations with this area so far:
- In 2022, the Centre for Sustainable Energy ran a pilot workshop and survey in Peasedown and Wellow.
- Local residents shared ideas for thirteen potential locations that might be worth exploring to see if any were suitable for renewable energy: eight for wind, and five for solar
- You can read more in the 2022 Renewable Energy Conversation Findings report
- In 2025 we returned to Peasedown, Wellow and Shoscombe as funding is now available to continue our conversations, if the community agrees.
- On Saturday 8 November 2025, we held a Community Energy Open Day for Peasedown, Wellow & Shoscombe. The event invited residents to discuss whether or not any of the locations considered in 2022, or community-owned renewables more generally, were supported for further consideration.
- On Wednesday 25 February 2026, we held a Community Energy Forum. At the Forum, residents reviewed opinions expressed at previous events, looked at locations for local wind and solar, in the light of new technical information, and identified a shortlist of potential locations for wider community discussion. Read the Community Energy Forum summary report.
Who we're working with
Local groups help share information and encourage participation in the community conversation. They do not make decisions on behalf of local residents.
Take part in the Community Energy Survey
The Community Energy Survey is now open until 5pm on 15 July 2026.
The survey is an opportunity for residents of Peasedown, Wellow and Shoscombe to share their views on community-owned renewable energy ideas, including wind and solar, and whether any locations should be explored further.
This survey is not about giving a definite yes or no to a specific wind or solar site or project. Instead, it asks if you'd like to learn more about community-owned renewable energy and explore how it might work in your local area. All views are welcome, whether supportive, opposed or unsure.
What happens next
- The Community Energy Survey is open until 5pm on 15 July 2026
- We'll be hosting drop-in sessions to help publicise the survey locally. Find any live events on our events page.
- We'll review feedback from the survey, community events and previous engagement activities together.
- If there is sufficient community support, we may take one or more locations forward for technical assessment (this is fact-finding activity, not developmental).
- We will share any technical assessment findings publicly and discussed with the community before considering any decisions about future steps.
- Any future proposal will require further community discussion, and any relevant planning processes.
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