Local MP Jeremy Hunt was on hand on Friday to help launch an exciting new initiative in Godalming called the Wey Valley Solar Schools Energy Co-operative. It is seeking investment from members of the local community to install solar panels on five local secondary schools and is keen for people to invest sums from £250 to £20,000 and join the Co-operative. Rodborough School, Broadwater School and Godalming 6th Form College are the first schools to sign up to the scheme and Woolmer Hill is also expected to join. With over £200,000 already pledged by local investors ahead of the launch WVSS hopes it is on its way to raising the £675,000 it will need to install up to 49kW photovoltaic systems on all five schools. The organisers told Jeremy they believe that it will probably be the biggest solar energy co-operative of its kind in the country to date when it launches in September. Jeremy said: “I am thrilled that something so innovative has been launched in Godalming. The best government policies are those that encourage local initiative rather than necessarily trying to do everything themselves and nowhere is this more true than the environmental agenda. It will also be great at cutting energy bills for local schools.""For more on this exciting project please visit www.weyvalleysolar.co.uk
