Bermagui is powering ahead to a sustainable energy future. That’s the hope at least after a community forum on Sunday afternoon was attended by a full house of around 250 people at the Bermagui Country Club.
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The forum heard from renewable energy innovators and sustainability practitioners outlining the potential for community-oriented solutions to rising electricity prices.
Among the speakers was Professor Ross Garnaut, an economist who prepared the landmark 2010 report for the federal government into the economic effects of climate change, and who is now the chairman of Zen Energy.
Professor Garnaut said the admirable aim of 50 per cent renewable energy across the Bega Valley Shire is achievable by the year 2020, an endorsement that was met with applause from those present.
He said while Australia is still rich in “old energy” resources, the same could be said for renewable resources such as solar, biomass and waves.
“We can be the superpower of the global power economy, if we do things right,” Professor Garnaut said.
The forum was hosted by Clean Energy for Eternity (CEFE), which has been very active in Tathra in particular, but now has its sights on Bermagui and beyond.
Proving how successful CEFE has been in bringing renewable energy to the forefront of Bega Valley thinking, the audience heard how, of the 70 community energy projects completed across Australia, 20 of them are CEFE’s.
Tom Nockolds of the Community Power Agency shared that exciting statistic, while stating partnerships among community groups, energy retailers and end users are of key importance.
Other speakers included:
John Walters from Ekonomix Solar who spoke about a community-owned approach to power generation and financing;
Karl Edmonson from Reposit Power who talked about his company’s app that monitors how much energy your home is using and/or producing, and a storage add-on that can more efficiently utilise energy during off-peak times to replenish the battery;
Harry Chami from Solar Juice, who lay claim to around a third of the solar battery storage market share, despite “that other battery company” getting all the publicity;
Jon Keeble from Wattwatchers and his electricity use monitoring service; and
Tony Pfeiffer from Enova Energy, the community-owned energy utility company based in Byron Bay.
CEFE’s Matthew Nott rounded off the forum by thanking the speakers for “giving us ammunition to achieve things”.
“Never has there been a more exciting time [for renewables] as it is right now,” Mr Nott said.
“We’re a great example of what you can achieve when you get community working together with a proactive council.”