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The Whitby Esk Energy – Ruswarp Hydro

a community-owned 50kW Archimedes screw hydroelectric turbine on the River Esk at Ruswarp, near Whitby, North Yorkshire
Whitby Esk Energy is a member

a member of

The scheme is run by volunteers through Esk Energy (Yorkshire) Limited, a registered society.  Our main aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of the Esk Valley through generating renewable electricity. Learn – Share – Educate

‘No vaccine for climate change’ says North Yorkshire Rural Commissioner

Whitby Esk Energy was one of the local case studies in the latest hearing of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission. The report on the hearing starts with:

“There is no vaccine for climate change and no simple expedient whereby we can flick a switch and it will all go away. We are coming through an existential pandemic crisis and now have to face the existential crisis of climate change.”

These are the words of scientist and business leader Dr Debbie Trebilco as she opened the Rural Commission’s latest evidence session.

During a day-long online hearing this week, the commission, which consists of eight independent experts, heard evidence about the huge opportunities and challenges presented to North Yorkshire by the growth in renewable energies and the need to make fundamental changes to reduce carbon omissions here.

Themes which repeatedly emerged during the sessions were the imperative to work with public and private sector partnerships, the vital role to be played at hyper local level – with communities driving their own projects and programmes, and the extensive job opportunities the renewable sector can offer the county.

To read the full report visit North Yorkshire County Council’s website.

Changes to the Esk Energy team

Rory Newman was appointed as Chair of Esk Energy (Yorkshire) Limited at the AGM in September following Colin Mather’s decision to stand down as Chair after leading the team since the start of the project.

Mike Ford spoke on behalf of the Esk Energy team saying,

I’ve known Colin since 2006 when I joined him on the Community Renewable Energy Project team. From the start he has been an inspiration to me for carbon reduction and action on climate change. He had a heat pump when nobody knew what they were so he ‘practised what he preached’. He led the way for establishing our hydro project and kept Bentley’s civil engineers on their toes right through to a successful commissioning. It is sad he is standing down as Chair but I look forward to future contributions from Colin as a fellow director.

Welcome Rory. I haven’t known Rory for long but it is clear that he is a keen supporter of the project and is very able in bringing us all together to work as a team. All excellent qualities for being our new Chair.

Sarah Stead decided not to stand for re-election as a Director.

Debbie Trebilco spoke on behalf of the Esk Energy team saying,

We are really sorry to see Sarah leave the Board. Sarah is an architect by training having a practice in Whitby. She has been a major influence on our design and style. Sarah was an important facilitator on contacting key people to get essential permissions and support. Now with her partner, and two little boys, Sarah lives in Tyne and Wear, and tutors in architecture at Newcastle University. With her busy life, now was an appropriate time to stand down. We look forward to when she can join us again. We wish her every success.

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