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Wind fqrm study
will gquge interbst
Member for Northern
Tablelands Richard Torbay
has launched a project to
investigate tbe feasibility of
establishing a community
owned wind farm in the local
atea.
The initiative, headed
by Starfish Enterprises,
has received $51,000
in State Govemment
ft funding and $11,000 from
I local organisations, for a
preliminary study to gauge
community interest and the
level of investrnent such a
scheme could muster.
On the table is a proposal
for a $25M-$30M utility with
a capacity to generate between
I-
eight to ten MegaWatts,
enoughto power from thLree to
six thousand homes.
i 'lThere is a precedent for
t this in Daylesford, \4ctoria
where the $12.9 miltion
Hepbum Community Wind
Farm has attracted $8 million
most$ from local householder
and business investolent," Mr
Torbay said.
"Our region is ideal for
this type ofventure, given the
strong uptake ofsolar and the
keen interest in environmental
issues."
The study has been firnded
jointly by the Departments of
Fair Trading and Environment
and Climate Chanee. with
local funding fr om Cohmuni ry
r ;;;;ffi
Mutual Group, Sustainablb
Living Armidale and Starfish
ilIEnllfrr
Er/ut
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L{lgfiL ruffiryUS
(back) Valerieanne Byrnes (NEM), Kevin Dup6 (NEM), Adam
Blakester (Starfish), Richad Torbay MP, Paul Cruikshank
(DCWA), Liz Gardiner (Farming the Sun), Nathan Alelsson
(RDA), Kim Trieste Hastgings (RDA), Hugh Piper. (front) Harold
Rich (NEM), Patsy Asch (SLA), Jarra Hicks, Mick O'Loughlan
(Starfish) at the launch.
Enterprises. for a successful community-
"There is a national target owned wind farm," he said.
to produce 20 per cent of "At the same time we will be
elechicity from renewable determining whether there is
sources by 2020 and in NSW sufficient interest and support
we still dependon coal for 90 for a community wind farm to
per cent ofour electricity," Ivk be successfi.rl - from investors,
Torbay said. "Our region has community members and
been nominated as one of six organisations.
in NSW with a high level of "Thebenefi ts ofestablish ing
natwal wind resowces and a windfarmthat is community
this project fits the profile and owned are substantial,
has great merit." particularly in generating
Starfish Chair Adam iffordable" electriEity *i
Blakester said the process ensuring that the long-term
would involve a series of financial benefits and iobs are
dialogue-based forums -kept local.
with landholders, residents, 'TV'e are very excited about
business, indusny, community the oppornrnity t0 condrct
grempsard.localffi titutitrns. ftis-=s;ffidyf- It'-has'' akerdy
"We are keen to identify generated a lot of interest and
the requirements, parameters we expect that momenalm to
and principles that are the key continue."
METAL(
Australia's largest ste
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20X2OXl.6t"lt/ 6.5M $1r.00
25X25X1.6MIO(6.5M $13.20
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30x30x1.6MI,D(8.0M $20.00 3(
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