Our third share offer is off to a flying start. We’ve raised more than £300,000 – in just a few weeks! Thanks so much to all of you for your support whether you’re a new investor or taking the opportunity to re-invest in our most ambitious community projects yet.Why people want to #OwnIt
With COP 21 around the corner, three recent stories have stood out for us which may explain why Bristolians and people from across the UK – and even overseas – want to invest in our solar projects.
1. The Government announced an end to EIS tax relieffor community energy schemes.
2. The National Grid uses “last resort” measures to keep the lights on and actually pays businesses to reduce energy usage.
3. The World Bank says that climate change will plunge 100 million people into poverty (Edie).
The end of EIS tax relief was an unpleasant surprise for us, but we feel that our community has reacted positively and our solar energy projects are very much alive. We do encourage you to take advantage of this by investing by Monday 23 November.
With energy security issues looming, our share offer gives people the chance to own their local energy supplies and be resilient – to #OwnIt. But we can all feel overwhelmed about how to help with the wider challenges of climate change. By joining our community (with an investment of just £50 up to £100,000) people can take control of their local energy supplies. It’s a socially responsible investment that makes you feel good and does good too.
As Raquel, one of our latest investors from Bristol says:
“For me, the Bristol Energy Cooperative share offer is the chance to do something in a complex world of increasingly baffling choices. It’s about using some of my money, to provide solar panels for community buildings like The Kumba Centre in St Pauls, St Werburghs Community Centre, Brentry Children’s Centre. And it’s about knowing I have helped created an alternative to fossil fuels, however small. That is why I’m in. Let’s #OwnIt.”
Raquel has gone that extra mile by helping to spread the word, whether that’s helping out at our events, hosting a share offer party or even getting in the bath with balloons!
Join Raquel in spreading the word via social media with #OwnIt. We’d love to hear why you’ve invested too – please let us know by Twitter, Facebook or email.
Make a difference locally
We’re asking you to invest in solar in order to make a difference to community in Bristol and the wider region. Last week we visited our planned solar farm in Lawrence Weston which your investment will fund, and found out more about how it will help the community.
Mark Pepper, Development Manager, Ambition Lawrence Weston told us:
“The word community really matters to us in Lawrence Weston, and that’s why we are excited about the opportunities that Bristol Energy Cooperative’s planned solar farm will give our residents in the long‐term. This community-led project will enable the residents to personally own a major piece of infrastructure. We hope that the solar project will become a powerful and inspiring symbol of how far we have come in rejuvenating our local area.”
Made in Bristol TV came along to cover the story – watch us on catchup (skip to 02:22s):
As well as heading to Lawrence Weston, the BEC team has been busy spreading the word about the power of solar around the city and beyond including events at Bristol Pound, TedX Bristol, Burges Salmon,Voscur, Bristol Green Capital Award… Look out for us next week.
The countdown is on…
We appreciate your support so far but there’s still a huge amount to raise to bring our ambitious projects to life. In just 5 days time our EIS share offer will close – find out how to invest now.
