Green group just keeps on growing

The Advocate - Daylesford Hepburn Shire Edition, Page: 7
Wednesday, 10 May 2006

THE Hepburn Renewable Energy Association has more than 200 members helping the environment. At its first annual general meeting recently, the association elected a committee of 10 people. Per Bernard, a Daylesford architect and president of the association said the 'group had been "blown away" by the support for the community effort. "This community is leading by example," Mr Bernard said.

"We're reducing our own greenhouse footprint and making our contribution to stopping climate change," he said. In a first for Australian, the new community wind park will be run as a co-operative with members of the community buying shares. Mr Bernard said as well as producing renewable energy, the association hoped to run energy saving programs in the local area. "There is so much work to do and the new committee members are all outstanding community people," he said.

Committee members Denise Dalton said the association was a wonderful idea from the start. "They've done a wonderful job so far and, after I went to see the wind turbines near Ararat, I thought I'd like to help as much as I can," she said. An information night is being planned for members of the local community to find out how the community wind park would be set up.