PEOPLE who would like to be part of Warrington’s new “green” future by investing with the borough council to develop a solar farm need to act now.
There are only nine days left before the offer to invest and receive a long term, low risk return, ends.
The council’s first ever Community Municipal Investment (CMI) closes on Sunday November 15th.
The council is seeking to raise £1m to deliver a new solar farm in Cirencester, which will support the council’s Green Energy Strategy, meet the aims of its climate emergency declaration and help Warrington become carbon neutral by 2030.
Launched at the end of August, in partnership with Abundance Investment, the CMI has now raised £750,000 towards the project. With just two weeks to go until the investment closes, there’s still time for you to get involved and invest from as little as £5.
Warrington is leading other local authorities in taking climate action. It has already reduced its carbon footprint by 50 per cent since 2009, and this investment forms part of the next phase of its climate change strategy, which was launched as far back as 2007.
The CMI will help fund a multi-million pound innovative solar and battery storage project near Cirencester. The electricity and revenues generated by the solar panels will be used to accelerate other green projects on behalf of Warrington’s community.
The Warrington CMI will pay investors 1.2 per cent per year in half yearly payments over its five-year term, although holdings can be sold on to others at any time free of charge via the Abundance Marketplace. The minimum investment is just £5, making this an appropriate investment for a very wide audience.
The CMI is a bond issued by a local authority directly to the public via an internet-based crowdfunding platform. It will be administered by Abundance, who are a separate FCA authorised company, on behalf of the council.
Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “We’ve been really pleased with the response so far to our first ever Community Municipal Investment. A range of people have invested in the scheme and I’m delighted that we have raised £750,000 to help fund this hugely important project for Warrington.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for people to join us in taking action on the climate emergency through a sound, social investment. There’s now less than two weeks to go until the investment closes, so don’t miss out on your chance to get involved, invest in a greener future for Warrington and support our plans to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
Bruce Davis, co-founder and managing director, Abundance, said: “Warrington’s ground-breaking green bond is leading the way for other councils to follow. Investors big and small from Warrington and across the UK want to back the council to deliver this innovative solar power and battery storage project which will make a significant contribution to their efforts to achieve net zero by 2030.”
Abundance was founded in 2012 with a mission to help turn members of the public into real stakeholders in things they care about, and allowing anybody to invest as little as £5.
For more information on the Community Municipal Investment, and to invest, please visit abundanceinvestment.com/invest-now/warrington-2025
