GETTING THE COMMUNITY ON BOARD
Infigen supports the local community throughout the development, construction and subsequently the operation of its wind farms.
Wind farms provide certain parts of the community direct and indirect economic benefits.
Recognising an opportunity to extend the economic benefits to all members of the community, Infigen assisted with setting up a community wind farm co-operative as part of its Flyers Creek wind farm proposal. This will be the first of its kind for a commercial wind farm development proposal in Australia.
Fourteen local residents from Orange, Blayney and Bathurst in New South Wales initiated the formation of the Central NSW Renewable Energy Co-operative (CENREC).
CENREC has since lodged its draft co-operative Rules and draft Disclosure Statement with the NSW registry of co-operatives.
The concept of the proposed model is simple: a local community co-operative is established to raise funds to purchase a wind turbine in a commercial wind farm development project and receive the economic benefits generated by that turbine.
The public launch of the co-operative will be held on Wednesday, 17 October 2012, at the Flannery Centre in Bathurst, New South Wales. To get involved and become a member of CENREC, go to:www.cenrec.com.au.