Community energy groups have come together to launch the pledge ahead of Valentine's Day to rally public support for renewable energy projects that are run for the benefit of the community rather than for private profit.

Groups supporting the pledge include Bury Community Hydro, Community Energy GM, Greater Manchester Community Renewables, Moss Community Energy, Oldham Community Power and St. John's Sunshine.

Members of the public who sign the online pledge will be kept informed about the progress of the different schemes, and will be given the chance to invest in the projects as they are launched.

"If politicians aren't up to the job, then it's up to communities to take matters into our own hands and show them what needs to be done!"

“It's great to see so many projects offering schools and community buildings across Greater Manchester the chance to benefit from generating their own power, and we wanted to give people the chance to show their support for these projects", said Ali Abbas of Greater Manchester Community Renewables.

“In Paris, the Government promised to act on climate change, but its policies are a shambles. If politicians aren't up to the job, then it's up to communities to take matters into our own hands and show them what needs to be done.

“Greater Manchester was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and this our chance to put it at the forefront of the clean energy revolution. We are proud of our heritage and hope that people will support these modern day Pioneers.”

"Rather than competing with each other, we decided to come together on a joint platform to support each other."

“Despite all the government cuts to support for clean energy, lots of Greater Manchester community energy projects are planning to launch in 2016," added David Cullen of Moss Community Energy. 

"Rather than competing with each other, we decided to come together on a joint platform to support each other.

“The pledge is a way of saying that, whatever the Government does in the short term, clean energy is the road to the future and our projects will put communities in the driving seat.”

"The UK government has cut support for renewable power while going all out for fracking and bringing in tax breaks for oil companies."

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change commits governments to pursue policies that will limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

Despite being a signatory, the UK government has cut support for renewable power while going all out for fracking and bringing in tax breaks for oil companies. You can read more about this here.

The groups involved in the pledge are pressing ahead with their plans for community-owned renewable energy in Greater Manchester and believe they have public opinion on their side. 

Money to fund the different projects will be raised through a series of community share offers, which will be opening over the next few months.

Members of the public who buy shares in the projects will receive annual interest payments, and any financial surplus made after investors have been paid will be available for initiatives which benefit local communities.

Learn more about community energy and pledge your support here.