A RENEWABLE energy event was run by unpaid volunteers last weekend, to help the people and the planet.

Transition St Gennys, a voluntary group working on the transition to a low carbon economy, organised the event which was held at Trelay Farm near

Wainhouse Corner.

Visitors found out about the government's plans to introduce feed-in tariffs in April 2010, a way to reward householders and others who buy small-scale renewable energy equipment and feed electricity into the grid. From 2011, a tariff for heat will be paid too.

The payments will be tax-free, and made for all the energy that is generated, on top of the price paid for the electricity (or the amount people save if they use the energy themselves).

The scheme is aimed to encourage people to invest their savings in such schemes, in exchange for a high

income stream.

Three inspiring speakers (Paul Bright, Gage Williams and Bill Andrew) gave details about the need for

energy security, how the tariffs will work and how to set about a

project. Visitors also saw a range of small-scale renewable energy equipment on display and were able to collect information from

suppliers.