Monday 4 February 2008

Wind farm a money-spinner

Ballarat Courier
Saturday 2/2/2008 Page: 31

AN analysis of wind energy has shown the planned wind farm at Leonard's Hill would make money, according to the chairman of Hepburn Wind. Simon Holmes a Court said he was delighted with the findings by Garrad Hassan Pacific, which used information taken from a monitoring mast that had been at the Leonard's Hill site for more than a year. It's great news. It has really reiterated the strength of this project, and reminded us that renewable energy can power a town and help cut dangerous greenhouse emissions at the same time," Mr Holmes a Court Said. It's also reaffirmed what we've known for some time:this project's going to make money for our community."

The analysis took into account the turbine positions, wind, effects from topography, vegetation and long-term weather patterns. Board member and architect Per Bernard described the energy analysis as a very thorough scientific process that confidently predicts what the wind park is actually going to produce''. This energy analysis gives us long-term certainty about the wind park's production levels into the future. It enables the Hepburn Wind board to plan the wind park with real confidence."

Mr Bernard said the assessment showed the two turbines of the Hepburn Community Wind Park should produce enough energy for just under 2300 houses, almost the total number of houses in Hepburn and Daylesford. Hepburn Wind has estimated the renewable energy will cut more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the shire's greenhouse emissions. A prospectus for the project is close to completion and is expected to be launched in the first half of the year.

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