Who owns a power station? The answer could be you. Most power stations are owned by corporations or governments. It’s time to take back the power and share it within our communities. Wind, solar and biomass can all make a significant contribution to our electricty supply. Community owned wind farms have operated in Belgium, Holland, Scotland and Germany for over 10 years. They are being developed in Victoria and W.A. Now this progressive model for a power station is coming to NSW. The wind farm will be financed by individuals, who become members of a cooperative. Local residents will have the opportunity to buy shares in the coperative and to source their power from the wind farm. Some profits from the cooperative will be reinvested in local renewable energy or community projects. Community Power is keen discuss this idea with anyone interested, but particularly residents of the Lithgow/ Oberon/ Bathurst area, potential sites for the wind farm. Grid-connected wind farms produce reliable power and can even improve the qulaity of power supply in rural areas. No greenhouse emmissions are produced. Modern wind turbines produce very little noise, take up a tiny amount of land and do not pose a significant risk to birds. The energy required to build the wind farm is repaid in less than six months.
What we’ve done.
-Formed a working group
-Investigated Central West NSW for potential wind farm sites
-Received expert advice from a wind farm developer
-Liaised with other communities developing similar projects
What happens now?
-Incorporate the group Power4Community
-Community consultation (underway)
-Public meeting in Bathurst and/ or Lithgow
-Grant application
-Site selection
-Appoint project manager
-Developemnt application
-Form cooperative
-Fundraising
-Build wind farm
-Issue prospectus and sell shares
Join the renewable energy revolution!