Economy
Hobart events will help Tasmanians develop their own energy projects
Opening day for Hepburn Wind in 2011
Communities wanting to take control of their energy production and invest in renewable energy projects will receive a boost this month as the Tasmanian Community Renewable Energy Roadshow visits Hobart on Wednesday 10 September.
“Local community owned renewable energy projects are a win-win-win for Tasmania” says Jack Gilding of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance. “Local people receive cheaper energy, the community obtains a return on investment and more renewable energy is installed which benefits the environment and the Tasmanian economy.”
Presenters will share inspirational examples such as:
• Wildpoldsried, the small German town of 2500 people which produces 4 times the electricity it consumes and earns over $7 million dollars per year.
• Hepburn Wind which raised over $9.7m from nearly 2000 community investors and has constructed two wind turbines in Victoria.
• Solar $aver Program for Pensioners run by Darebin Council in Victoria which is using an innovative financial model to put solar panels on 300 pensioners houses at no upfront cost to homeowners.
Organised by a coalition of community organisations with support from Hydro Tasmania, the Roadshow is sharing the knowledge and enthusiasm gained by the eight Tasmanian delegates who attended the national Community Energy Congress held in Canberra in June.
The Roadshow will assist communities to identify the type of community energy project they might like to develop and explain the support that is available to help them.
“Tasmanians are speaking up about the damage to the Tasmanian economy caused by the anti-renewables policies of the federal government, but they are also getting on with the job of building the alternatives to a fossil-fuel economy.” said Mr Gilding.
“This is an area in which Tasmania has abundant natural resources, expertise and experience. The Roadshow will emphasise the fact that communities have a vital role to play in both defending existing successful policies such as the RET and in creating the innovative energy industries of the future.
Roadshow presentations will be held at 3pm and 6pm on Wednesday 10 September in the Lower Ground Conference Room, Hobart Town Hall, cnr Elizabeth and Macquarie.
More information and registration is available at http://www.slt.org.au/roadshow as well as future events in Nubeena and Deloraine.
About the presenters:
Jack Gilding is the Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance and was previously the Executive Officer of Hepburn Wind. He has been active in a number of projects to research and promote the potential of community renewable energy projects.
David Mounter is Manager, Renewable Asset Development for Hydro Tasmania. He will talk about Hydro’s experience in community consultation in the development of renewable energy projects and outline the services Hydro is able to provide to communities wanting to develop their own renewable energy projects.
Supporting Organisations:
The Roadshow is a collaborative effort supported by Sustainable Living Tasmania, KEENER, ATA Tas North Branch, the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance, Hydro Tasmania, and the Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE).