A retired engineer has become the first person in the country to supply local households with cheap green energy from his own wind turbine.
Pete Bailey, 69, provides 17 households with electricity from his 50kw turbine, which is located on his land in Salwayash near Bridport, Dorset, as part of a pioneering scheme.
The renewable generator covers around half of their energy needs and saves each home as much as £60 per year.
The 69-year-old, affectionately nicknamed 'Windy Pete', installed his large white wind turbine ten years ago with a dream of offering power to local people.
But it proved too costly to implement until last year when he was invited to join a cooperative with householders called Energy Local Bridport.
Retired engineer Pete Bailey, 69, provides 17 households with electricity from his 50kw turbine which is located on a field in Salwayash near Bridport, Dorset
Mr Bailey (pictured centre with locals), affectionately nicknamed 'Windy Pete', installed his large white wind turbine ten years ago with a dream of offering power to local people
The scheme, which was developed by the not-for-profit organisation Energy Local CIC, sees Energy Local Bridport allow householders in the area to purchase the electricity generated by the 50kW wind turbine.
It is the first of its kind in England and organisers say it provides a blueprint for the future of green energy in rural communities.
Mr Bailey now makes around 50 per cent more money by selling his output to the community than to a utility provider.
And dozens of other residents have joined a waiting list for Mr Bailey's power.
The plan, set up by Dorset Community Energy, comes after countryside campaigners slammed a huge 75 acre solar farm erected in nearby Spetisbury which will exclusively power London's Square Mile.
Mr Bailey said: 'I'd been fascinated by the technology for years and I tried in 2012 to supply locally but it proved too difficult so I had to sell to a utility company.
'I'd been involved with Dorset Community Energy before when they installed solar panels on the village hall where I was chairman.
'When it came to setting up Energy Local Bridport, they thought of my wind turbine as a very suitable ''kernel''.
'To be able to supply to local people is very good indeed - not only does it make sense environmentally but economically too.
'Half of what I got from the utility provider I'm making again. Before I would have had to dismantle the turbine because the amount of money I was getting simply wasn't viable.
'By getting more money for the energy I'm generating, it allows me to keep it for the future.
'It's also making people here more aware of the importance of green energy because they can see the benefits themselves.'
The 69-year-old supplies energy to was invited to Energy Local Bridport - a non-profit organisation that trades renewable energy between generators and consumers at a local level
Mr Bailey (pictured inside the turbine) said he had been fascinated by the technology for years
Each home Mr Bailey supplies is fitted with a smart metre which calculates when the turbine is producing energy and when this is being used by a household.
This means that they pay at a cheaper rate for energy they use at times when the turbine is in motion, saving around 5p per kw.
On calm days when output is low, an existing utility company supplies them with electricity at the usual higher rate.
Alison Jay, Energy Local Bridport coordinator, said: 'Energy Local clubs are initiatives which