Churches, schools and sports clubs in rural areas are being invited to utilise a £10m fund to help them switch to green energy and reduce their carbon emissions.
Salisbury Cathedral is just one of the places involved in a renewable energy project that has received a grant from the Renewable Community Energy Fund to help make the change from traditional power sources and become energy self-sufficient.
The not-for-profit Salisbury Community Energy has been developing renewable energy projects at eight sites across the city, including exploring the possibility of installing solar panels on the roof of the cloisters of Salisbury cathedral.
Alison Craig, Development Manager at Salisbury Community Energy, said: "Climate change is going to hit us all hard. The flood risk to Salisbury has, according to the most recent Environment Agency data, risen significantly.
"This makes the move towards making Salisbury zero carbon all the more important. These grants have enabled us to take the crucial first steps in creating green community assets for our historic city."
Another project to have benefited from the fund is Frome Town Football Club, in Somerset, which installed over 200kW of solar capacity - enough to power 2,000 light bulbs. Through the project, the club was able to generate almost £70,000 for the local community by selling extra solar electricity back to the grid.
The Renewable Community Energy Fund was created by the Government to support rural communities in becoming cleaner and more sustainable. In making the change, it says communities can reduce their energy bills but also make money by selling energy back to the national grid. It also hopes the projects will boost employment opportunities in green technology.
So far, 150 communities have benefited from the fund but the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is encouraging more to apply for grants of up to £40,000 for a feasibility study into proposed green initiatives like solar battery storage and wind, hydro and geothermal heat projects.
Projects deemed viable can then receive up to £100,000 to help towards the cost of business development and applications.
Energy and Clean Growth Minister Chris Skidmore, said: "It will take all corners of the country and sections of society to help us to tackle climate change on our path to becoming a net zero emissions economy and communities are at the heart of our mission for a greener planet."
