Fal Energy Partnership Social Opening Membership Meeting

Join us on Tuesday 29th May 2012, 7.30pm at  The WI Hall, Webber Street, Falmouth

Fal Energy Partnership is responding to local concerns on rising energy prices and the risky future of energy supply. FEP connects many different groups interested in developing and implementing an integrated sustainable energy action plan for our community.

We need to provide more energy locally, improve energy efficiency, and reduce fuel consumption.

Our primary focus now is to start developing our social business for local energy production and wealth.

FEP is now a Social Enterprise set up as an Industrial and Provident Society (for the Benefit of the Community) and is calling for membership registration from organisations and individuals who wish to create a low carbon future for the Network area.

Member Nigel Murray explains that “FEP is owned and run by everyday people, our members. It is the members who benefit and have the responsibility of deciding its future direction, authorise responsibilities, and are accountable”.  Local investment for local energy wealth.

Membership is set at a nominal £1 and every member has one vote.

We invite you to join at the meeting.

Contact:      Email:   info@falenergy.org.uk

Tel. Lorely Lloyd, 01326 317587

Attendees: Rob . Caroline. Nigel. Lorely(notes)   Working meeting on computers.

FEP on falmouthalive website:

• New words agreed and put on main page.
• Link made to Caroline’s graphics, vision document and the FEP Pack pages.
• History page updated.
• Caroline to send low res pdfs (of vision and FEP Pack) and style guide to Rob.
• Lorely to produce report of last 3 months activities.

Communication:

• Caroline to produce Mail chimp newsletter.
• Lorely to keep lists of interested and members etc.
• Rob to produce a discussion email group. Invite to be announced through the newsletter - Caroline. Lorely to contact existing emailees to let them know.
• Nigel added as recipient of info@falenergy.org.uk which also goes to Charmian, Caroline and Lorely.

FEP dedicated Website

• Rob will start to produce a dedicated website and happy to lead dependent on agreement from ALL on info address and the wider group as to content and their full participation in the process.
• Website can be completed by Rob after April. 
• Website to be built using Wordpress and interactive.

FEP Membership:

• Nigel producing draft application membership form.
• A membership button to go on website for virtual joining.
• Legal establishment has not been confirmed yet. 

FEP Energy Packs:

• Volunteers – Rob, Philip, Wendy, Rachel and Lorely (2 sessions) have completed the 2000 packs.
• Collection points - OneStop Shops and Libraries in Falmouth and Penryn plus the following shops in the surrounding villages have the packs for collection:  Budock Village Stores, Constantine Post Office, Flushing Stores, Longdowns Petrol Station, Mabe Shop, Mawnan Post Office, Mylor Stores, Perranwell Station Post Office and Ponsanooth Post Office, plus Tremough.
• All the Estate Agents offices in Falmouth have packs and student letting agents.
• Press release re collection points for FEP Packs has gone to West Briton and Falmouth Packet.
• 15 boxes of packs are being stored in Falmouth OneStopShop, can be collected any time shop open.
• Some shops only took a few so need regular contacting to top up.

Promotion:

• A monthly stall on The Moor is being organised.   Ruth covering insurance through Falmouth Town Council. It will be a Community Alive Falmouth stall with specifics about Fal Energy.  Date for start being discussed – could be 1st Sat of each month?
• 5th May 350.org ‘Joining the Dots’ global event day – what can we do?
• Meeting mid May to start membership drive.
• Camp Kernow keen to support our activities.
• Lorely to purchase a mobile demonstration energy set up for demonstration at events and at Trevone. 

Funding:

• The LEAF fund work is being completed.  All activities had to be completed by end of March. All reports have to be in by 30th April.
• ???????

Misc: 21st and 22nd April -  activities at Trevone to support 10:10's Remade Month -skill sharing and repairing, and Earth Day on Sunday.

Next Meeting: tba

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Fal Energy LEAF mtg:  27th April 2012 at Caroline’s.

Attendees: Caroline. Lorely (notes)   Working meeting on final report for LEAF.

Hot map success:

• A local company is happy to pay £50 to be added to the hot map and others following therefore accountant and bank needed asap.
• Accountant:  Lorely to contact Volunteer Cornwall to advertise for a volunteer.
• Bank:  Social Enterprise not yet confirmed so no bank account but Transition Falmouth has an available bank account that could hold funds until then.
• Caroline willing to manage Hotmap and money coming in while it is active.
• Caroline to produce a thank you letter for distribution points/shops etc  with info on the hotmap.  Lorely to distribute.

FEP Energy Packs:

725 have been distributed.  1275 available for events and to top up distribution ships etc.

Promotion:

• Community Alive on The Moor with FEP promotion next Sat 5th May to link with ‘Connect he Dots’ global initiative for 350.org.
• Regular 1st Sat on The Moor planned.

LEAF Report:    deadline Monday 30th April.  Caroline producing Community Activities graphic report, Charmian finalising technical report.

Fal Energy Transport Group: Meeting to be arranged asap.

For information online about the project, please click here to view images of our FEP Energy Info Pack. Full pack available soon on this website.

Press release Fal Energy Partnership 13th April 2012

‘Great new info pack to save money and energy’ 

     ‘Where to get info to save money and home energy bills’

         ‘Join the new movement to live more comfortably on less energy’

Fal Energy as a Social Enterprise has produced free energy saving information packs to help local residents save money on their fuel bills.  

OneStop Shops and Libraries in Falmouth and Penryn plus the following shops in the surrounding villages have the packs for collection:  Budock Village Stores, Constantine Post Office, Flushing Stores, Longdowns Petrol Station, Mabe Shop, Mawnan Post Office, Mylor Stores, Perranwell Station Post Office  and Ponsanooth Post Office. Other venues will have the packs and if you are able to distribute any then please contact below.   

The pack is designed to allow new information to be added in the future.  We believe this pack will be a very useful and an ongoing resource as energy costs become more expensive with fossil fuels increasing in price.

The current pack consists of simple but effective methods to reduce heating and cooking costs, plus case studies for 4 typical local houses and a booklet on ‘How to save money on your energy bills’ from Sarah Newton’s office.

Caroline Robinson the pack’s designer says "Getting to grips with energy prices can be made easier by focusing on what you can achieve tonight when you get home. Get stuck into anything from sharing the evening meal to sewing extra thick curtains. You can have fun while saving energy! Or find out what serious energy savings for the type of house you live in. Pick up a copy of your energy pack or find it online www.falenergy.org.uk”

The funds for the developing the pack came from the Local Energy Assessment Framework Fund from Dept of Energy and Climate Change and has been managed for FEP by Falmouth Town Council.

The next step for FEP is to launch membership of the FEP Social Enterprise which will enable investment in local energy production and energy efficiency.

     volunteers compiling the FEP info packs ready for delivery

Thanks,
Lorely

With Spring blossoms and Summer heat it proved a special evening to launch this ambitious project. To reinforce the message of local wealth, abundance and resilience all food and wine was produced in Cornwall.

The Art Gallery stayed open for the event and started the evening with wine and viewing of the latest collection.  

The formalities were held in The Council Chambers and brief speeches set the context for UK to local to community and personal energy issues:

• Councillor Geoffrey Evans, Mayor of Falmouth Town Council repeated the support of his Council, who are already administering funds for the project.
  
  
• Sarah Newton MP added her support and briefly covered Central Government commitments to energy sustainable communities.
  
  
• Councillor Mike Varney, Cornwall Council: outlined Cornwall planning strategy and highlighted another existing Community Project represented at the evening (Ladock and Grampound Road) and the annual CC- Cornwall Renewable Energy Show in July.
  
  
• Prof Mike Jenks outlined local planning context and the value of a Neighbourhood Plan for the area.
  
  
• Charmian Larke, Energy consultant, gave a powerpoint presentation of the first exciting results of the Fal Energy report showing the Area’s existing energy consumption and how local energy production can service that need with renewables and energy efficiency measures.
  
  
• Caroline Robinson , ClearMapping Co, revealed the Energy Advice Pack from FEP, this pack is being distributed in the Network Area and will be found in One Stop Shops, Libraries, Village Shops and Halls etc. Also included are 4 house case studies and advice, which together represent over 50% of local housing. Other advice booklets complete the pack which is designed to be regularly updated.
  
  
• Lorely Lloyd encouraged everyone to join The FEP Social Enterprise: a cooperative with £1 membership fee and the opportunity to invest for personal wealth and wealth for the network area.

The ‘cheese and chat’ that followed buzzed with enthusiasm for local future energy potential and discussed where new projects can be started.  The excellent local food was rounded off with Fal Friendship Cake to remind everyone that this is a community based project.

To join the FEP Social Enterprise or for more information: phone 01326 317587 or email info@falenergy.org.uk.      www.falenergy.org.uk

Following are notes from activities of the last week:

·        FEP Public Meeting 16th March,

·        Core group meeting of 14th March,

·        Falmouth Town Forum meeting 14th March,

·        FEP Crafty on The Moor 17th March. Public Activity.

Fal Energy Public mtg:  16th Mar 7:00 The WI.

Present:  Charmian, Caroline, Blanka,  Fran, Richard &  Evelyn,  Nigel, Mike, Rob, Tony, Tim, Rachel,  Lorely(notes).

Apologies: Peter Rugg, Ann Jordan, Philip Pearce, Nina Ennaji

The meeting had been promoted as a public meeting for discussion about onshore wind power. There had been a press release in West Briton titled: ‘Debate over Wind Power’  - Lorely did have a phonecall from an anti wind but unfortunately the person did not arrive hence a rather biased group present..

• Fran filmed the meeting.
• Charmian presented powerpoint overview of FEP report.
• Discussion on best strategies to engage and inform:  enlightened self interest, make it personal, appeal to the pocket, revaluing – culture shift, , fashionable and normalise, thrifty, positive payments/incentives, cost analysis, minimal changes for maximum effect, change balance, lifeboats/community, cognitive dissonance, dialogue, examples, planning issues, global, local, embedded costs and technology, demand and supply, Stagger info, lobby local council, money changes emotions and emotional values, little steps, visual, ‘we are doing it you can join us’ , ‘help your packet - help the planet’, reskilling, consumption, ‘planning for real exercises’.

• Mike is furthering a Neighbourhood Plan and the meeting agreed an important project to support.  The NPlan to be included at FEP launch.

Finis 9:00pm next  meeting launch 28th March.    Nb activities on The Moor 17th and 24th March.

Fal Energy LEAF mtg:  14th Mar 4:30pm at Council Chambers then The Shed until Town Forum meeting at 7:00.

Present:  Ruth  (until 5:00) , Charmian, Caroline, Lorely(notes).

Finances:

• Ruth contacting LEAF to check deadline dates for invoices.
• All invoices need to go to Ruth for paying.

Matched funding:

• Ruth organising the Falmouth Council £200 to be transferred to the fund.
• Ruth to invoice Tim Light for £1000.
• Lorely still trying to obtain the £900 from FalmouthAlive.

Deliverables

1: Legal Body:

Charmian/Lorely - documentation from initiating members needed for Paul.

2: Community renewables and energy efficiency document:

Vision:     Charmian producing a draft for meeting Fri 16th.  Caroline to produce the  printed document to be presented at FEP Launch.

Logo:       Caroline new logo has been produced and put past the email group most very supportive.  more discussion re logo and other potential ideas explored.  (Caroline reminded us that logo can be changed post March).

3: Case Studies 2 common housing types: town/country.

Lorely has informed CEP with the four identified houses and Karen(CEP) is visiting this week. 

4: Info leaflets and Hot/Cold map. 

FEP Energy Pack:   Folder containing: *Simple leaflet describing FEP, signposting to local information, resource suppliers and installers, information/advice energy efficiency etc  * specific advice for renters,    *case study reports,   *multiple booklets etc produced by other bodies, * leaflets produced by our FEP partners.   

Mechanism for dissemination:  *Simple info leaflet to be distributed to local households (indicating where complete pack to be obtained) , *downloadable compilation,  , *FEP Packs to be found at Library’s, One Stop Shops, local shops, local estate agents and letting agencies etc.

• Caroline project manage FEP Pack.
• Caroline compiling advice to house owners/rentees.
• Caroline producing format for FEP Energy Pack.
• Caroline: producing the Hot/Cold map
• Advice leaflet to be produced asap for promo over Spring Festival.
• Rob has set up domain names for www.falenergy.org.uk  and.co.uk with email addresses info@falenergy.org.uk and inf@falenergy.co.uk and 3 separate emails for Charmian, Caroline and Lorely.   www.falenergy.org.uk   http://www.falenergy.org.uk  now being signposted to www.falmouthalive.org.uk 
• Rob, Alex and Caroline met last Thurs and set up Twitter and Facebook.
• Fathom:  Words produced from Lorely, Caroline, Charmian and gone for Fathom leaflets (to be distributed 16th April).

5: RE Resource Report.

• Town Forum mtg 14th:  Charmian and Nick presenting overview of the report.
• Caroline taking photos for report – local context.

6:  Wind Site.

• Charmian to assess identified site
• Lorely has contacted both Town Clerk’s a date being arranged.

7: Community Engagement.

• Surviving and Thriving display and activities: has completed its 5/6 weeks, Lorely has produced an overview report and is to produce a FEP focussed one.
• Lorely visited Transition Constantine last Thursday and reported on FEP.
• Lorely attended Falmouth Parish Meeting and reminded FEP invitation for 28th
• The Launch:  wine to be served in Art Gallery before 7:00pm with cheese and nibbles and speeches in Council Chambers. 37 have booked so far.
• Lorely produced Press release 9th March: re next week Climate Week, Public meeting Friday 16th March: Fal Energy reporting and discussion re onshore wind power, plus advertising ‘Crafty on The Moor’ 17th and 24th..
• Spring Festival and Climate Week.  Lorely organising arty/crafty activities on the Moor 17th March. 10:00 to 3:00.
• Spring Festival:   24th March:  10:00  to 1:00 arty/craft on The Moor.
• Purchase gazebo and info boards.  
• Insurance being set up with Events Insurance. £152.00
• Two Uni media students are following/filming our activities and are now focussed on a general short video on ‘Change’ with some poetic content.
• Food for launch: Lorely contacting local cheese and wine suppliers;  and sourcing Falmouth Friendship Cake.   

Next  meeting:  Friday 16th March (Core group 5/6:00)  before 7:00pm Public Meeting at Falmouth WI.  

Falmouth Town Forum meeting 14th March

The Town Forum meeting was attended by Charmian, Caroline, NickSwallow and Lorely.   Charmian presented basic report details and Nick offered some info on local Food growing potential.  Discussion followed.

Report by Jonathan Griffin: Falmouth Energy Partnership
Charmian Larke and Nick Swallow joined the meeting to report on the work of the Falmouth Energy Partnership. Supported by a grant from the Department of Energy, the Partnership had been exploring the possibilities of the local Falmouth area achieving zero carbon emissions and the implications of this.
Current climate change predictions were that a change of 2 degrees C was the lower limit and that this would raise sea levels by around 10m, inundating much of the Fal area. We were already past peak oil and therefore energy costs were likely to continue to rise as well. The matter was therefore doubly urgent.
The highest use of energy locally is in oil for transport and home heating, and gas in the home. Key areas for reduction are the use of oil and emissions from the production of electricity. A mix of renewable sources could provide 75% of the power required in the area.

It would be possible to achieve local self-reliance with an increase in renewables and:

• 50% less demand for transport
• 35% drop in demand for electricity
• Better heated homes

Growing sufficient food locally to provide a traditional diet. To meet these long term energy resilience targets would take an investment programme of £8m pa which is the equivalent of about £200 per person per year.
In discussion it emerged that:

• There had not been a change in the sea level on the Penryn River over the last 100 years
• Cornwall Council are planning for a 1m rise in sea level over the coming 100 years
• There are currently only 90 wind turbines in the county. If replaced by larger ones, this could be reduced to 30
• It could be made mandatory that all new build should include pv cells but this made the houses uneconomic

The team was congratulated on their work and encouraged to start with small achievable projects. There was a risk of scaring people with the big picture. The key was in allowing people to make individual economic decisions which helped move towards a sustainable future.

The Falmouth Energy Partnership was holding a meeting about wind turbines at 19:00 on Friday 16 March in the WI. The launch of the initiative was to be at 19:00 on 28 March at the Poly at which it was intended to launch a social enterprise which would carry out a range of demonstration projects.

FEP Crafty on The Moor 17th March. Public activity for Climate Week.

Nigel, Maureen, JaneMac, JaneMat, Rob, Rachel, Lorely.   Filmed by Fran and Emily.

9:00 to 3:00. inviting the public to ‘Help us design an Energy Machine’. With willow and scrap etc.

Another activity for Climate Week was for Fal Energy volunteers to join other crafty activities on The Moor on Saturday and invite people to ‘Help design an Energy Machine’ using willow and scrap store material and the wind. Information was handed out on the activities of the group and the new UK partnership supporting community investment in renewables.

The crafty team will return Sat 24th in the morning to repeat the design request.

To complete the month’s activities there is to be a Cheese and Wine launch event for the Fal Energy Partnership Social Enterprise on Wednesday 28th March, anyone interested in attending please phone 01326 317587 or email info@falenergy.org.uk.


Basic background info:

Fal Energy Partnership: a social enterprise. Action for local energy wealth

Fal Energy Partnership (FEP) began as an informal partnership connecting different institutions aimed at developing an integrated sustainable energy action plan for the Falmouth and Penryn Community Network area. This rises out of local concerns on rising energy prices and future energy supply insecurity, solutions to which are local actions to increase local renewable energy supply and reduce energy needs.

FEP becomes a registered Industrial Provident Society later this month, with the aim of local awareness raising on these issues and enabling investments in local renewable energy supply projects as well as supporting improved energy efficiency.

As a Social Enterprise, FEP will return any profits, after investor returns, to be reinvested in local sustainable energy projects.

Give your support or have a query?
Call: 01326 317587
email: info@falenergy.org.uk
web: www.falenergy.org.uk