20th August: 100 energysharing communities in the running for funding

Energyshare is here to give everyone the chance get involved in changing the way they source, use and generate renewable energy. We’ve launched a community fund, and renewable energy tariff and a social network to make that happen. Since then 31,000 people from across Britain have pledged their support for the community projects applying for funding.

642 community groups, including schools, have applied for their share of up to £500,000 from the energyshare fund. The groups are all working to take control of their energy use by saving or generating renewable energy. In the first stage of funding, groups had to demonstrate that they had support both online and in their local community.

100 groups have been selected to move onto the next stage, where they’ll complete full applications with the help of British Gas Project Managers before being shortlisted by a panel from energyshare, British Gas, River Cottage and Friends of the Earth.

You can check out which projects are competing for funding here – and you’ll be able to vote for the ones you want to see get funding later in the year. Today ‘Three Hungry Boys’, Trevor, Tim and Thom are touring the South West in their electric powered van and as they’ve got no money they are visiting energyshare communities to work for food and a renewable charge on the way.

Find out how they get on, find a local community to support or set up your own by registering on energyshare, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter