Will Ipswich borough Council install Solar Panels its properties?
With Suffolk County council's pledge to make Suffolk the greenest county'
, will Ipswich borough Council follow other local authorities and invest in solar panels on their properties?
There has never been a better time for local authorities like Ipswich to invest in micro-generating systems such as solar panels.
The feed-in-tariffs that were introduced earlier this year give residents, homeowners and local authorities the chance to get paid for the electricity they produce from renewable energy. The money for this comes from a levy on utility companies that started in April 2010. This levy is, of course, passed on to the consumer. Although, this has been worked out to cost the average household around 8.50 a year so very few of us will notice.
With solar panels being the quickest and easiest form of renewable energy to install public sector bodies are considering them as a save investment that will generate a guaranteed revenue stream.
Installing solar panels also brings the added benefits of lowering electricity bills and meeting carbon commitments. Plus contributing towards a greener future for the next generation.
So will Ipswich borough council make the investment? There is an irony that if it does not, the money form the slightly higher energy bills it had been paying will be going towards other councils who have already invested in renewable energy.
The council has already begun to include solar panels in new building projects and such as Broom Hill Pool (proving all the funding comes through for the pool). There is also the fact that solar panels are being installed on new housing.
Whether Ipswich council takes the plunge to retrofit solar panels on its existing housing stock it is yet to be seen. A lot could hinge on what the new coalition do with the feed-in-tariffs that are part of its spending review.
Will Ipswich borough Council install Solar Panels its properties?