Dr Caroline Johnson, the new MP for Sleaford & North Hykeham, visited the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant on Friday, March 17^th. The visit was an opportunity for Dr Johnson to see how the power station generates clean electricity for local homes and businesses and meet the teams who own and operate the power station.

During her visit, Dr Johnson was briefed about how straw (the main fuel for the plant) is procured, stored and delivered to the plant and was told about the wide-ranging support that the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant has given to community organisations and projects since it entered operation in 2014. One of the main contributions has been the provision of free heat to the Sleaford swimming pool, the town’s football club and indoor bowls club, the William Alvey Primary School and the main office of North Kesteven District Council, and most recently financial support to upgrade broadband connectivity in Kirkby-la-Thorpe.

Peter Dickson, a director of Glennmont Partners, the owners of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant, hosted Dr Johnson with Matthew Igoe, the plant manager. Peter said: “We were delighted to welcome Caroline to the Sleaford plant and explain how it operates, how we work with the farming community and how we have supported the local area through the Sleaford Community Fund.”

Dr Caroline Johnson MP said: “It was my first visit to the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant; it was fascinating to see how electricity is produced from straw that is mainly sourced from farms in the region.  I was also impressed by the level of support that Glennmont Partners and the Sleaford plant have given to local community projects, large and small - in Sleaford and Kirkby-la-Thorpe.  All told, it was a most interesting visit.”