Antinuclear

“Bendigo needs to know that renewable energy driven by community is possible,” Professor Martin said. Hepburn Wind, whose chairman Simon Holmes a Court will be one of the presenters at the event, is a “clear example” of what could be achieved by community owned and invested projects, he said.

“For me it’s a no-brainer. The hurt will come as electricity prices go up and people will say ‘why didn’t we do anything about it?’” he said.

“All governments can worry about is the bloody carbon tax. There’s lots of news around on community action and we see no action from the government.

All we see them doing is banning wind farms.”

Professor Martin said it appeared politicians were more likely to follow the campaign for clean energy once it gained ground, rather than lead the way.

“There’s great enthusiasm from communities across Australia who want to do something,” he said. Among the projects presenting at the conference is the Warbuton Micro-Hydro project, a small hydro electric system set to power 50 to 60 homes when it starts in about three weeks.

Warburton Micro-Hydro project leader Luke Whiteside will be speaking about the financing of the project, which has its community bank as a major shareholder. Mr Whiteside said he would be interested to learn from other community run projects during the two-day event.

The conference at The Capital theatre is being held by La Trobe University’s Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, and the Central Victoria Solar City project with the City of Greater Bendigo. It will also address managing peak energy demands and developing local renewable energy generators for the national distribution network.

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