Swim centre power station

www.themercury.com.au
2 May 2012

THE roof of Hobart's Aquatic Centre could become a big community-owned solar power station, says a Greens alderman. A meeting of local residents had already shown strong support for the idea and Alderman Bill Harvey said he wanted to see co-operatively-owned wind farms and solar installations installed around the city and further afield. Not every home was suitable for a solar panels and buying a share in a larger venture was a good way for residents to get involved with green energy, he said. Such projects carried the possibility of a financial return if the project was commercially viable, he said.

"There seems to be really strong interest in community-generated energy", Alderman Harvey said. "It's a green energy source, it's kudos for the council (and) it keeps money in the community, rather than paying a retailer on the mainland. "And 2012 is the year of the Co-Op, so it seems an appropriate time to be looking at these things". He said the Aquatic Centre site would be ideal for a large-scale solar system which would be able it to operate on a carbon neutral basis and provide a return for investors. "It's got a substantial roof negotiating with the council would be easier than negotiating with a business potentially", he said.

Melbourne-based community power advocate Embark has expressed an interest in helping the Aquatic Centre project get off the ground. Embark executive director Mary Doughety said a similar scheme for wind power in central Victoria attracted $10 million from 2000 mum and dad investors and was generating the power needs of a small town while providing returns of 8 to 10%.

"As an individual you can't invest in renewable energy", she said. "It's an easy way for people who rent or people who don't have the appropriate roof space or a suitable site for their own panels. "We believe an energy transformation has to take place over the coming decades. The premise is about making sure communities benefit". Alderman Harvey said he planned to hold further community meetings to shape the project in the coming months.