Antinuclear

Uralla competes for more renewable energy  http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/2625862/uralla-competes-for-more-renewable-energy/?cs=12  By LYDIA ROBERTS   15 Oct 14 URALLA is vying with five other towns to become the first in Australia to rely solely on renewable energy.Mayor Michael Pearce says the move will cut power bills for the town’s ratepayers and businesses. It could also mean wind turbines become a fixture on the Uralla landscape.

“We already have solar panels powering our aged-care facilities and heating our swimming pool; our community is telling us they want more renewable initiatives and this could fit the bill,” Cr Pearce said yesterday.

Non-for-profit company Starfish Enterprises has secured a $105,000 state  government grant to develop a blueprint for a  zero net energy town, ideally located in the Northern Tablelands.

While more than 100 businesses have tendered to draw up the blueprint, the next step in the process is to find a suitable town willing to become the first to switch to 100 per cent green power.

Uralla, Walcha, Glen Innes, Inverell, Bingara and Manilla have all expressed an interest in becoming the model town. Cr Pearce said Uralla stood a good chance of becoming the selected town because there was substantial community support for the idea.

The move would follow several towns in the United States and Germany, all of which have shifted to zero net energy. This means the towns are powered by LED lighting, bio-gas plants, daytime solar panels and energy efficient pumping systems.

Starfish executive director Adam Blakester said expressions of interests from towns closed next Friday.

“An average town of 5000 people would spend up to $20 million a year on energy,” he said. “If we can produce that energy locally and competitively, we create a new industry.”