ABOUT 500 homes could be powered by the sun if the search for the right patch of farmland is successful.
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The $5 million solar farm could prove an alternative to big solar projects often concentrated in the hands of overseas-owned companies.
"The medium-sized plants like these can be owned by the community, for the good of the community," Mr Weir said.
The Bendigo Sustainability Group wants to build a two-megawatt solar farm and is calling expressions of interest from farmers willing to lease their land for 25 years, the group's Chris Weir said.
The project likely to be watched closely by other sustainability groups across the state as communities prepare to transition to renewable energy, he said.
The City of Greater Bendigo wants 100 per cent renewable energy from local and regional sources by 2036. Medium-scale plants could supply energy to 10-15 per cent of that market, Mr Weir said.
"This kind of power is ideal for people who may want a bit of ownership of the solar farms, but who are renters or living in high rises and who cannot put solar on their roof," Mr Weir said.
There had already been interest from landowners since the group started putting out feelers this month, Mr Weir said.
The land needed would be about the size of four football fields.
It would be in Bendigo's local government area, preferably, front a public road or support a 100 metre access track.
It would also need to be fairly flat, not in a flood zone, avoid shadows from trees or other natural features and be near the three-wire power lines suited to the power the plant will generate.
The group also wants to find land where neighbours will "embrace and not object to a community scale solar farm", according to a statement on the group's webpage.
The farm project follows from two last year that saw solar energy systems installed on rooftops at the Eaglehawk Badminton and Table Tennis Stadium and Community Housing Victoria homes.
For more information on the Community Solar Farm click here.
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