Community windfarm proposal moves to next phase
11.04.2011
At a final consultation session with potential investors in Armidale last week the concept of establishing a $30M community windfarm has received a cautious endorsement to move to the next stage.
The meeting at New England Mutual (NEM) head office heard that the proposed six turbine system would generate approximately 20 per cent of the Northern Tablelands electricity needs.
NEM CEO Kevin Dupé said the value of the session had been to generate feedback from potential investors on the concept and the level of benefits, risks and challenges it posed.
“Our area has been assessed as one of the best sites in the state for windfarm development and there is already a huge corporate sector investment being planned,” he said.
“The concept of a community owned wind farm does have strong local support in principle but it would have to prove viable, sustainable and able to deliver returns to investors.”
Starfish Enterprises principal Adam Blakester told the group that five community consultation meetings in Armidale, Glen Innes, Kyabra, Uralla and Walcha and an online survey had endorsed the concept of producing clean renewable energy locally and moving towards self sufficiency.
However, meeting attendees had also raised issues of the perceptions of noise and visual pollution of turbines and the difficulty of raising the $30M locally and securing the expertise to manage the operation.
“Wind is the most affordable renewable energy source and it is ready for large scale roll out,” Mr Blakester said.
‘It is highly efficient and there is a precedent with a community owned windfarm in Hepburn Shire, Victoria where its local supporters raised $10M of the $12M cost for two turbines to meet the energy needs of 5000 households.
“There appears to be sufficient support within the Northern Tablelands to undertake a pre-feasibility study to examine the issues raised by the community and investors and present a proposal that would encompass solutions to those concerns and issues.”
Mr Blakester said potential investors were keen to see a strong governance structure on which to build a sustainable model with a majority local shareholding and a methodology for trading shares.
He said options included selling the electricity generated back to the grid, a strong role for local government and ensuring local community ownership and control.
“Overall the scheme, if it does go ahead, should reflect community values, the strong belief that we should be moving towards renewable energy sources and a transparent and sustainable financial base.”
Below: New England Mutual CEO Kevin Dupé, Starfish Enterprises principal Adam Blakester and meeting coordinator Jarra Hicks (NEM) with potential investors at last week's forum in Armidale.
