Plans to make Newstead into a 100 per cent renewable town have taken a step forward after the group received 23 expressions of interest from “energy solution providers.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Renewable Newstead hopes to turn the town green by creating a zero-emission energy supply.
They wanted something that was low-cost, reliable, safe and generated by local renewable energy.
Renewable Newstead community and engagement officer Genevieve Barlow said the concept was still in its early stages.
However, the plan could involve deploying rooftop solar panels on buildings around town, which could then share power communally or be traded in the wider grid during peak periods.
The group had been working on a detailed business plan and had wanted to hear from companies interested in pitching in and helping create a post-fossil-fuel-Newstead.
The call for expressions of interest included solar power and storage suppliers, electricity retailers and financial service providers.
It also included investors “that are looking to invest in renewable energy assets for a combination of financial, social or environmental returns”.
The deadline for submissions was last Friday.
While it was too early to comment publicly on what was received, Ms Barlow said the group had heard from a diverse range of companies.
“It was a really worthwhile exercise to assess market enthusiasm about stepping in and doing something really different,” she said.
Ms Barlow said the submissions would help it refine ideas and ahead of a tender process planned for the latter part of 2017.
Renewable Newstead’s committee would spend this Christmas and early January combing through submissions before coming together to agree on useful ideas.
From there Renewable Newstead would present a strategy to the local community for feedback.
“We certainly won’t be going out to do any project without consulting the community. All along the way we’ve sought social license from the community … we see it as a social project, not an energy project,” Ms Barlow said.