Consultant Dan
07 March 2011
My tilt at a windmill board
I have put myself forward to be nominated for the Board of Hepburn Wind, Australia’s first co-operative wind farm. This is exciting for me because I want to be part of the renewable energy solution.
Hepburn Wind is located at Leonards Hill, near Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. It is a co-operative company, with almost 1600 financial members. There are 6 of us competing for 3 vacancies on the Board.
My 2 nominators were Simon Holmes à Court, who is Chairman of the Board and John Conroy, an old friend of mine who is a PV installation electrician, starting up his own business.
The Annual General Meeting is Friday 30 March, so if there is anyone from Melbourne who wants to attend, get in touch with me and we can drive up together (in a rented people mover).
Here are the photographs of the arrival of our 2 REpower turbines, at Appleton Dock in Melbourne 2 weeks ago. Each one is rated at 2.05MW. The share offer document projections are that these 2 turbines will produce about $50mill in electricity over their 25 year life.
In my board nomination statement I said that I have been passionate about the environment ever since high school in the 1980s.
Back then, renewable energy was an “alternative technology”.
Wind and solar are now mainstream industries and the basis of our future national security and prosperity, as well as the solution to the climate crisis.
Once the wind farm is operational, later this year, the co-op will be able to shift the focus of its human energies to helping other communities build wind (and solar!) co-operatives of their own.
If I am elected, I would treat the board activities as if Hepburn Wind is a client getting Pro bono work.
I can help the Board handle negative beat-ups and “astroturf” campaigns and tell the good news story of renewable electricity generation, that is owned by the community, for the planet.
Excellent plan – hope it goes well. Sorry can’t drive up there with you.
Thank you Moss & DA!
The turbine installation is all going according to plan and I am feeling inspired.
RSS
A most encouraging enterprise. Community enterprises like this will be very significant in ensuring we respond adequately to the challenges ahead to meet our sustainable energy needs.
Good luck!