Great News - Hepburn Wind is underway and there is still a change for current Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group members to invest in the project for as little as $100. Of that $100, MRSG will receive $25 for future application to local sustainability projects.

Please consider if you can participate we need more greenpower to replace brown power, given the lack of real action at the Federal level.

In a week when Australia took a major step back from a low carbon future, the Hepburn community and supporters took a major step forward.   Last Wednesday we signed the full 'turn-key' contract for the construction of Australia's first community owned wind farm.

The signing of the contract with REpower Systems AG marks a major milestone as the project moves from vision to a certainty. The major works are now in the hands of REpower, and we now have contractual certainty in regards to cost and timeline.

  Construction on Leonards Hill is scheduled to start in October and in 12 months time we expect our two 2.05 MW turbines to be producing more electricity on average than is used in all of Daylesford's homes.

  Now is the time to invest...

Our 1112 members have invested more than $7.5m to date. This, coupled with our loan and state government grant totals over $11.6m.

For our final fund raising, we are issuing 1.8m shares. Shares, at $1, are available to existing members, Victorian residents and others in certain circumstances. Joining and investing in the co-operative requires a minimum subscription of just $1000.

Our Membership and Share Offer has been completely revised and may be downloaded from our website: hepburnwind.com.au 

Members of our co-operative share the profits from the sale of the valuable green energy produced. Our environment benefits from an estimated 12,200 tonnes of CO2 abatement per year, and the community benefits from the $1,000,000 we aim to contribute to local sustainability initiatives over the next 25 years.

  Most Australians want to see a meaningful response to the threat of climate change, but aren't sure what constructive role they can play. By pooling our resources, our community has already begun the transition to a low carbon future. And we're showing that it is not difficult - our project works out to be about $5500 a house, no-one has lost a job (in fact we've already created two local jobs), and we'll be improving the local power grid in the process.

  This offer will close soon. If you've been waiting to join, now is the time. Invite your family, friends and colleagues to join this exciting project and together let's take confident strides towards a low carbon future.

 
Simon Holmes à Court
Chairman