Residents and community groups gathered at Broadway Cinema & Theatre in Letchworth on Wednesday 10 June 2026 for a screening of Power Station, followed by a live Q&A with the film's co-director, Dan Edelstyn. The event was delivered in partnership by Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and North Herts Council to explore what community-led renewable energy could look like locally.
Power Station, created by artists and filmmakers Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn, follows a Walthamstow neighbourhood as residents work together to bring solar power to their street and a local school. Its message — that climate action can start with neighbours simply asking what they can do together — resonated strongly with Letchworth's Garden City tradition of practical, community-minded planning.
In conversation with Cllr Amy Allen, Dan shared advice for communities considering their own projects. A key theme was that community energy is about more than technology: solar panels and batteries matter, but so do trust, confidence and connection between neighbours. Other lessons included starting with people rather than technology, keeping first steps practical, looking for achievable sites such as schools and civic buildings, addressing finance and ownership early, and expecting obstacles along the way.
For Letchworth, any future work will need to respect the town's distinctive heritage setting, with the Foundation emphasising that climate action and heritage need not be at odds. Early steps could include mapping local interest, learning from existing community energy groups and identifying potential sites for feasibility work.
The Q&A was recorded and will be broadcast in the coming weeks on Breathe Radio (on air and on YouTube) extending the conversation to those unable to attend. Attendees were encouraged to register their interest on the evening, and a follow-up discussion with partners and community representatives is being explored.
Anyone interested in community energy in North Herts is encouraged to look out for future updates and connect with local climate activity.