Solar panels

Green Party councillors have welcomed a successful solar scheme in Reading. Last year, Green councillors Dog Cresswell and Dave McElroy campaigned for Reading Council to run a group solar panel buying scheme, giving residents a discount on the cost of installing solar panels.

The scheme has now become a reality with 1,051 residents having registered for the scheme.

Councillor Dave McElroy asked a formal question at a council meeting asking for the council to get involved with this initiative and Councillor Doug Cresswell wrote to Reading Council and Solar Together urging them to work together on a solar panel group buying scheme.

The way the scheme works is:

  1. Interested residents register for the scheme (which has been promoted locally by Reading Council).
  2. An auction is held with installers bidding to win the work.
  3. The winning installer offers the residents a personalised scheme including the reduced price quotation.
  4. Residents then each decide whether to go ahead or not. A deposit is paid if they wish to go ahead.
  5. Solar panels are installed on the home at a reduced price.
  6. Residents making savings on their electricity bills.

Councillor Dave McElroy said: “With the cost-of-living crisis solar panels are one way for people to save on their electricity bills. They also reduce carbon emissions and help tackle the climate crisis. Having campaigned for such a scheme last year I am glad to see the council has got involved. Greens will keep campaigning for a fairer, greener and cleaner town.”

Image credit: 10 10 – Creative Commons