Water good idea for green energy
Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date published: 23 November 2010
Secretary of State Chris Huhne (left) with (from the left) Bill Edwards, Elwyn Watkins and Euro-MP Chris Davies at the site of a proposed mini hydroelectric scheme at Dovestone Reservoir
Hydro power plant plan
A CABINET Minister has been to Saddleworth to study locals’ plans for a mini hydroelectric plant.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne visited Greenfield on Sunday to see the proposed site of the plant at the outflow of Dovestone Reservoir.
United Utilities has given villagers permission to generate green energy which could power up to 100 homes a year.
The scheme could also raise tens of thousands of pounds for local community projects through the sale of the electricity.
Lib-Dem Mr Huhne met Bill Edwards, chairman of Saddleworth Hydro Electric Group, a local residents’ organisation that has been working on the project for two years, to hear about the benefits that the scheme would bring to local households and the wider community.
Mr Edwards said: “We were absolutely thrilled to get the green light from United Utilities earlier this year.
“As well as generating clean energy, this project will fund a series of other sustainable energy schemes in the area, which will offer a significant benefit to the local community.
“It was great to have the opportunity to explain our plans to the Energy Secretary directly and show him some of the work we’ve been doing.
“There is still a long way to go, but we are all now feeling very optimistic that we can make this happen.”
Mr Huhne said: “Liberal Democrats have long been champions of green energy, and this is exactly the kind of small-scale microgeneration scheme we need to see more of — clean green energy that can power local homes and fuel community projects.”
Oldham East and Saddleworth Lib-Dem candidate Elwyn Watkins added: “I’m a strong supporter of this scheme which has benefits for the entire community, and I look forward to continuing to work with Saddleworth Community Hydro in its efforts to raise the funds to get this scheme off the ground.”
