Suffolk County Council has won an award for a ground-breaking wood fuel project.
The council won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy prize for boosting the supply and demand of sustainable wood fuel in the region, including supplying 20 wood-fired boilers in schools and public buildings between 2006-2010, as well as its commitment to sustainable forestry.
Other benefits of the council’s work includes funding and other support to a local wood-fuel producer co-operative, allowing them to purchase and operate a large chipper.
Local wood-fuel producers were given long-term contracts, while woodland was brought under management to benefit biodiversity, with native trees being replanted.
Sarah Butler-Sloss, Ashden Awards’ founder director, said Suffolk was boosting the county’s supply chain for biomass fuel through sustainable forestry.
“The project not only reduces harmful emissions and encourages sustainable development of our woodlands, but also supports local businesses and reduces the council’s own fuel costs,” said council spokesperson Judy Terry.
