Age
Thursday 29/4/2010 Page: 4
AS big energy companies bemoan a lack of certainty to invest in new power plants, a central Victorian town last night celebrated a deal that will build Australia's first community-owned wind farm. After five years of planning, contracts were signed yesterday to build the two-turbine Hepburn Community Wind Park at Leonard's Hill, about 10 kilometres from Daylesford. According to the cooperative behind the project, it will generate 12,200MW hours a year - significantly more than is needed to power the towns 1887 homes.
Hepburn Wind chairman Simon Holmes a Court said more than 1100 members had invested $7.5 million. Together with a $975,000 state government grant and the backing of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, it was enough to sign a contract with German manufacturer REpower systems to build the $12.9 million farm. Mr Holmes a Court said the project was based on the Denmark model of small communities owning boutique wind farms. "Most Australians want to see a meaningful response to the threat of climate change, but many aren't sure what constructive role they can play," he said.
"By pooling resources, [we] have developed a model for the low-carbon future that is both low cost - at least four times cheaper than rooftop solar photovoltaics - and brings a significant new business to town." Construction is due to start in October, and the wind farm is expected to start producing power before mid-2011. A final 1.8 million share offer was announced at the Daylesford Town Hall meeting last night.
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