Goulburn community owned solar farm Community Energy for Goulburn (CE4G) is working with Anglicare Goulburn to establish a community fund to facilitate an equitable sharing of benefits of the project.
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The project plans to build a 4500 panel solar farm by next year and aims to produce 100 per cent clean electricity to supply around 500 residences.
CE4G president Ed Suttle said its mission is not only to provide clean alternatives to coal and gas, but also to assist the disadvantaged within the Goulburn community.
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"We are working with Anglicare Goulburn to establish a community fund 'The Power Poverty Fund'. Anglicare will manage and distribute the fund to our local community where it is most needed," he said.
The fund will have contributions from two sources. Firstly, a percentage of the farm's annual profit will be retained, pre-dividend, for contribution to the Power Poverty Fund. Secondly, shareholders will be encouraged to put aside part or all their dividends as a tax-deductible donation to the Power Poverty Fund.
The farm had secured a $2.1m in state funding earlier this year and will be owned by members of the Goulburn community, with the dividends remaining within the local economy.
Goulburn Anglicare works with those who are most vulnerable in the community.
"The families we work with are struggling financially, often making difficult choices such as whether to pay for electricity and food or keep a roof over their heads," Toni Reay, manager of housing and social services for Anglicare South, West and ACT told CE4G.
"This is an incredibly stressful situation for people to find themselves in, whether it is single individuals or families struggling with the rising costs of living or older people relying on government support and trying to make ends meet."
CE4G are holding two solar farm share information nights at the Goulburn Workers 6pm on Wednesdays October 21 and November 4, 2020 for those interested to own shares in this 100 per cent renewable energy Goulburn power station and to contribute to the fund.
To meet COVID requirements, registration is essential via https://goulburnsolarfarm.com.au.
