A COMMUNITY wind turbine can only become a reality if more local people get involved.

So say members of the South Brent Community Energy Society, who are holding open meetings this month to show neighbouring towns the benefits of investing in a wind turbine near Marley Head.

The turbine is set to be funded entirely by local residents and organisations and will generate enough electricity to power about 100 homes.

The project is estimated to cost £420,000 and sees residents and local organisations contribute between £200 and £20,000.

South Brent residents have so far contributed £265,000 but without full funding the plans will not get underway.

SBCES is working with sustainability group PL:21 to encourage residents in Ivybridge, Buckfastleigh and Bovey Tracey to get involved.

SBCES director Francis Macnughton said: 'Subscribers may receive annual interest of between four and five per cent averaged over the 20 year life of the wind turbine and it really does have a huge number of benefits.

'It's green, it's sustainable and will directly benefit our area.

'We really want local people to be involved as they are the ones who should reap the rewards of this offer – we don't want a big company swooping in and taking it over as it defeats the object entirely.

'That's why we have put a cap on the investment amount, between £200 and £20,000.

'We, the directors, wish to attract members who are committed to long term investment in SBCES.'

The share offer is open until March 22.

A spokesman for PL:21 said: 'It's a great opportunity. The electricity that the turbine would generate would be sold to the national grid and the income from this will be re-invested in local energy projects.

'This could mean £120,000 to £400,000 being put into the local community over the 20 year lifetime of the project. Hopefully lots of people will come along to the meeting and we'll be able to help this project get underway.'

SBCES intends to have the wind turbine installed in the summer of 2013 and see the first energy saving reinvestment in South Brent and interest payments made in the autumn of 2014.

A meeting is taking place on Friday, March 8, in Chapel Place, Ivybridge at 7.30pm for people to find out more. Meetings are also due to take place on March 12 in Methodist Chapel, Bovey Tracey at 7.30pm and March 13 in the Town Hall, Buckfastleigh at 7.30pm.