Antinuclear

HIGH ON LEONARDS HILL just south of Daylesford, an unusual community picnic warmed the hearts of hundreds of Victorians this autumn, as residents settled in to enjoy the installation of Australia’s first wind farm owned and run by the local community. …..

A leg up

While community-owned projects like Schönau are happy to showcase their project to others wanting to do the same, in Australia, the role of facilitator falls to Embark, a not-for-profit organisation working to eliminate the barriers for a strong community renewable energy sector at home.

Embark’s executive director, Mary Dougherty, says examples like Hepburn Wind are a good start for Australia. “They have more than 1,800 people who invested in the vision. Sure, it’s small in the scheme of things, but imagine if there were 100 around the country, that’s something different,” she says.

The idea is not far-fetched. Since launching in 2010, Embark has been contacted by over 45 communities keen to create their own renewable-energy initiatives.

“Hepburn has made it possible for others to see it’s achievable. Now we need to create the followers to show government the model works,” she says.

She believes about five groups around the country already developing their business plans. “Our goal is to help them get to planning approval, so they can move into the capital raising phase as quickly as possible,” she says…..

Back in Daylesford, turning turbines mean profits are on their way to locals (the structure has been set up to favour local investors over ring-ins), and the Daylesford community is set to benefit from a $30,000 annual grant fund set aside by the co-operative for small environmental projects.

While these are undoubtedly attractive benefits for locals, it may be the ongoing commitment to community engagement that really demonstrates why this co-operative has the overwhelming (although not unanimous) support of its local community.

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/08/02/3263656.ht