A MINISTERIAL visit to a community club saw members’ gratitude as they hailed clean energy for ‘saving’ their beloved facility from closure.
Dodworth Miners’ Welfare FC welcomed MP Chris McDonald, Minister for Industry, who toured the facility’s new solar panels.
The solar panels, which are battery-operated, have saved the club over £3,000 since their installation.
Max Senior, the co-ordinator of the ‘Old Blowers’ division of the Dodworth Colliery Brass Band - detailed how the solar panels have transformed the club’s financial situation, claiming the club may no longer be here without them.
The club has benefited from 75 solar panels - it is thought that this will generate around 18,920kWh of electricity a year, reducing CO2 carbon emissions by 3,917kg per year.
The investment has been supported by a funding injection from CISWO - the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation - and the Net Zero Barnsley programme, delivered by The Business Village and Enterprising Barnsley.
The investment in the community-focused club comes as a part of the Labour government’s wider Local Power Plan - backed by funding of up to £1bn to help clean energy generation projects such as solar on community buildings like libraries, leisure centres and miners’ welfare clubs.
The plan will deliver the biggest public investment in community energy in this country’s history.
Community-owned energy has the potential to be a transformative tool to build the wealth of local areas - giving people a stake in the places they live.
Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “Britain’s drive for clean energy is about answering the call for a different kind of economy - that works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society.
“Local and community energy is at the heart of our government’s vision.
“With the biggest ever investment in community energy in Britain’s history, this government is saying to every local community - we want you to be able to own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community not simply out to the big energy companies.
“By giving local people the chance to take control of their energy - this government is making a fundamental choice to transfer wealth and power back to communities across Britain.”
Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald, added: “I think Dodworth Miners’ Welfare is a brilliant example of a community energy project.
“We’ve got lots of people who are now getting into the idea of installing solar panels and batteries to bring down their energy bills.
“As I heard members say today, the solar panels fundamentally saved the club, without it all of this excellent facility would have gone.”
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ENERGY Secretary Ed Miliband visited Barnsley College last week to encourage youngsters to be a part of the nation’s ‘clean energy future’.
The MP spoke to a number of school-aged pupils at the education hub’s clean energy jobs fair.
Youngsters had positive feedback for the event - engaging with government officials and expressing a growing interest in clean energy and STEM jobs.
The event also hoped to target young girls to get involved with science, technology, engineering or mathematics - fields in which they have been nationally and historically under-represented in.
The college was selected for the event because of its groundbreaking Clean Energy Training Centre, which was unveiled last year - where students will be equipped with the skills to land well-paid, skilled careers in the growing clean energy sector.
The event was part of the government’s project to deliver 20,000 extra clean energy jobs in the/ Yorkshire and Humber region by 2030.
Clean energy roles offer comparatively higher levels of pay - with jobs in wind, nuclear and electricity networks all advertising average salaries of over £50,000, compared to the UK average of £37,000.
Many of these opportunities will offer youngsters opportunities to skill-up and earn well-paid salaries - all without having to leave their hometown.
Mr Miliband was also joined by Minister for Industry Chris McDonald/ and South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard.
The event comes as a part of Yorkshire’s status as a growing clean energy hub - home to the UK’s largest clean tech sector cluster, with pioneering technology.
Mr Coppard said: “There is extraordinary talent in every one of our communities.
“But it’s only by connecting that talent with the jobs and industries of the future - that we give our young people the chance to live up to their full potential.
“By working together with the government, employers, educators and our communities - we’re building a cleaner, greener, wealthier and healthier South Yorkshire for everyone.”
Mr McDonald added: “The government is trying to raise the profile of apprenticeships as a great option for young people - especially for the clean energy sector.
“In the Yorkshire and the Humber area, 20,000 new clean energy jobs will be available from 2030.
“This is a bit opportunity for people from the area, which is what this is all about.
“Barnsley College has facilitated the connection between these companies and young people.
“The companies are really eager to do that because they know they’re going to need these highly-qualified people.
“I was pleased to see a group of girls I spoke to interested in construction and clean energy jobs - because women and girls are underrepresented as engineers.”
