BALLARAT Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions will present a free community energy forum online on Wednesday, 29 September to answer questions about renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Running from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, BREAZE board member Paul Duggan will host the discussion between regional Victorian community energy experts; Hepburn Wind manager Taryn Lane, Ballarat Community Power Hub Pilot 2017 to 2020 member Ian Rossiter, Natimuk Community Energy president Edwin Irvine, and St Arnaud Community Energy Group\u2019s Eddy Ostarcevic.<\/p>\n
BREAZE president Mary Debrett said the speakers have valuable hands-on experience and tales to tell, in line with The Grampians Community Power Hub\u2019s goals to engage residents and generate energy initiatives across the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are stories from regional communities that are leading the way in the renewable energy transition; Hepburn’s community-owned wind farm, the win-win of solar and battery installations for public institutions in Ballarat and Ararat, Natimuk’s commitment to offset township emissions via a community solar farm, and St Arnaud’s hunger for energy independence,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’re stories about ordinary people who are literally empowering their communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting a community energy project up and running takes collaborative effort and perseverance but the pay-off is fantastic, with cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, energy cost savings, and energy resilience; particularly important when bushfires hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Grampians Community Power Hub Pilot from 2017 to 2020 created approximately 700 kilowatts of power owned by the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage the community to be ambitious in their thinking about renewables.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are now multiple business models for funding community power projects, from crowd-sourced funding to leasing arrangements and angel investors, to the tried-and-true methods of community fund raising,\u201d Ms Debrett said.<\/p>\n