Greens unveil $100 million renewable energy program  

On Wednesday The Greens leader Christine Milne unveiled their Australian Community Renewable Energy Program aimed at providing community funds for green energy investment. Under the scheme $100 million would be provided as seed funding for solar and wind plants to reduce reliance on the fossil-fuel powered electricity grid.

While not common in Australia, community funded initiatives like the Hepburn Wind Farm in Dalesford and the Denmark Community Wind Farm in WA have proven the enterprise is meritorious. Located 10kms from the town centre, the Hepburn Wind Farm in Leonards Hill produces 12,200 MWh of renewable energy annually, equivalent to the consumption of 2300 homes, more than the number of homes in Daylesford. The Denmark Wind Farm contributed 30% of the town’s power needs reducing their greenhouse gas output by 6000 tonnes each year – the equivalent to taking about 1500 cars permanently off the road.

Germany has introduced hydro-power stations for some small cities and US communities have taken up installation of solar panels on neighboring buildings when apartment roof space is limited. The Greens announcement backs up their renewable energy roadmap that would aim for a 90% renewable energy target by 2030. With Labor committed to meeting the Renewable Energy Target (RET), questions remain over the Coallition’s plans should they win Government in the upcoming election. “While the old parties want to find ways to help the big polluters pay less,” stated Milne, “the Greens are helping locals take control by giving them the resources they need to properly plan and find funding for clean energy projects.”