DARTMOOR Forest Parish Council is investigating a government scheme that helps rural communities develop renewable energy projects.

At the council’s last meeting, Cllr David Worth spoke of Buckland Monachorum Parish Council and its ongoing effort to increase the usage of renewable energy in the area.

The funding, available from the government via the Rural Community Energy Fund, enables parish councils to employ consultancy firms to carry out surveys, liaise with stakeholders and seek advice from eligible legal entities.

The £15-million initiative is being jointly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Only a small number of bodies are eligible to apply for the grants, including parish councils, community interest companies, charities and development trusts.

Due to the absence of a suitable body to carry out this function, during its initial stages, Buckland parish council accepted responsibility for completing the application.

Dartmoor Forest parish councillors have agreed that this is a method they would likely follow, providing an interest in proceeding with a similar project is expressed.

The eligibility requirements associated with the scheme include the condition that the body applying for the grant must be planning the installation of a renewable or low carbon energy facility using certain technologies, which requires planning permission, and will generate energy for multiple buildings.

There are also requirements regarding who the funding may be spent with and the consultants selected to carry out the investigations must meet certain criteria in terms of track record, insurance and financial competence.

The energy generation for BMPC’s scheme is to be provided largely by solar power, with installations to be completed at a variety of privately owned sites.

The installations are to be funded by a system in which investors buy Bonds in the scheme with the expectation of a return on their investment.

The figures for the scheme, quoted by DARE (Devon Association for Renewable Energy), BMPC’s chosen consultants, were in excess of £200,000, however the figure decreased substantially when divided by a suitable number of investors.

A return for the 20 year life of the scheme is expected to be six percent to each investor, rising with a tax rebate to nine percent.

Nigel Tigwell, Dartmoor Forest parish clerk, said: ‘The council hasn’t come to a formal view and wishes to be provided with more detailed information.

‘Buckland Monachorum appear to be having a good experience, we are looking at what they are doing to see if it would be appropriate for us on the moor.’