Boost for wind farm

Hepburn Shire Advocate
Wednesday 2/4/2008 Page: 6

AN ENERGY production analysis has given the proposed Leonard's Hill Wind Farm a boost with independent tests confirming the project could power more than 2000 houses. The board of Hepburn Wind received the data after industry leader, Garrad Hassan Pacific Pty Ltd, completed the extensive calculations over the past 12 months. The energy assessment analysed the wind data from the monitoring mast, which has been on the Leonard's Hill site for well over a year. Hepburn Wind's Koos Hulst said the results were a major step forward for the project. "We're delighted with the findings of the energy analysis.

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 greenhouse gas emissions at the same time," Mr Hulst said. "It's also reaffirmed what we've known for some time, this project is going to make money for our community," he said. Board member and Daylesford 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."

Mr Hulst said the energy assessment demonstrated the Hepburn Community Wind Park's two turbines should produce enough energy for just under 2300 houses, almost the total number of houses in Hepburn Springs and Daylesford. Meanwhile, the Spa Country Landscape Guardians have called on wind farm company Wind Power Pty Ltd to provide a project update for its proposed Tuki Wind Farm site. The company wants to build a 19-turbine wind farm at Stoney Rises. Wind Power director Andrew Newbold told The Advocate the project remained a focus of the company, but was still in its planning stages.

For more information about Hepburn Wind visit www.hepburnwind.com.au.