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FocusFeatureStory September2012
FocusFeatureStory September2012
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Adam Blakester (second on left) is the Proiect Director for New England Wind. This is a committee of dedicated volunteers working towards establishing our region s very own windfarm ...
ho is on the committee for New England Wind?
The committee has members Their role
is
B
of a community wrnd farm. There are severaL strearns to this, including: community forums (like those we are currently doing with the near
neighbourhood around Woodville East); our
to
to thoroughly
assess
contacts.
The other members and specialities are Chris Blanksby (wind engrneer), Andy Cavanagh-
Downs (community-owned renewable energy), Liz Gardiner (renewable enerqy), Patsy Asch (communications), Pau Cruickshank (government policy and f unding), Karen Zirkler (landholder relations), Will Winter (business development)
Wind, which is in Daylesford, Victoria. They are Australia's first community-owned wind farm, and so far the only one. They were recently awarded the 2012 World Wind Energy Award at the World Wind Energy
Conference, Germany. New England Wind aims
wind monitoring and determining the cost of connecting to the electricity grid. This phase of work will take around one year. A f urther two years of work will then be
required for planning approvals, permits and various studies Lo be completed (environmental, social, financtal,
legal)
web presence (which includes resources that range f rom general information right through to techn cal research); and in-person discussions (which we have a great many of). Who will fund this project, and are you looking for donations and/or investors? The whole idea of a community-owned wind farm is that eventually we will raise f unds for
shares from local residents and businesses across
CC
tho fi lncls we
the short-term'
to raise funds
the New England. However, there is quite a lot of work we need to qet done before we can legally
Adam Blakester (second on left) is the Project Director for New England Wind. This is a committee of dedicated volunteers working towards establishing our region's very own windfarm...
ho is on the committee for New England Wind?
The committee has
B
owned wind farm will take us some way towards achieving it.
of a community wind farm. There are several streams to this, including: community forums (like those we are currently doing with the near
neighbourhood around Woodville East); our
to thoroughly assess
responsibility for all strategic decisions. This is an action-oriented group, with the mix of skills and contacts. The other members and specialities are Chris 'Blanksby (wind engineer), Andy CavanaghDowns (community-owned renewable energy), Liz Gardiner (renewable energy), Patsy Asch (communications), Paul Cruickshank (government policy and funding), Karen Zirkler (landholder relations), Will Winter (business development) and Barbara Finch (community development).
wind monitoring and determining the cost of connecting to the electricity grid. This phase of work will take around one year. A f urther two years of work will then be
required for planning approvals, permits and various studies to be completed (environmental, social, financial,
legal).
web presence (which includes resources that range f rom general information right through to technical research); and in-person discussions (which we have a great many of). Who will fund this proiect, and are you looking for donations and/or investors? The whole idea of a community-owned wind farm is that eventually we will raise funds for
shares'from local residents and businesses across the New England. However, there is quite a lot of
to be Australia's second
community-owned wind farm. While this is a new idea in Australia, it is a very common model in Western
Europe and North America.
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ln the short-term, the funds we need will be raised from a combination of donations, fundraising, sponsorship, grants and early
investors.
"
We would certainly welcome any and all contact from people who are interested in this!
farm will produce electricity for 25 years or more (especially if the wind turbines are re-furbished or renewed
energy and to move beyond coal. Concerns about unconventional coal seam gas were just beginning to emerge at that time, and there was deep concern for the need to protect farmland,
for another 25 years after that). Do you have sufficient community support for this project?
We have had overwhelmingly positive support
wind monitoring to thoroughly assess the site. A fundraising campaign will be launched soon to
assist
with this.
At the same time, we will continue with our communication and meetings with the community, landholders, neighbours and
authorities.
NE
water systems and nature. Second, the community wanted to have electricity created close to where they use it. There are two excellent sources of currently usable renewable energy in the New England wind and solar.
the financial returns. Hepburn Wind have a community fund for other sustainability proiects,
as
and we will set up a community benefits fund for the same purpose.
for the project so far; however, we have a long way to go and would welcome more! We are very thankful to our past financial
sponsors and funders (NSW Government, New
England Mutual, Sustainable Living Armidale and Starfish Enterprises) and our current in-kind partners (particularly Embark, Environmental Defenders' Office, Australian Community Energy and Wilson & Co Lawyers).
we can be emailed at info@newenglandwind. coop. To stay up to date, people can sign up for our newsletter (via the website) or 'like' us on Facebook at http:/iwww.facebook.com/ NewEnglandWind. All project reports and
technical research documents are available at:
http ://www. scri bd. com/NewEn gla ndWi nd
How do you plan to educate our community on the benefits of this project?
A comprehensive community education
process goes hand-in-hand
which came through was that we should be aiming to own our entire energy system. That's
with development
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