Consortium Meeting Record

New England Community Wind Farm Study

Meeting Details
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Landcare Office, Upstairs, 3/119 Beardy Street ARMIDALE

Attendees Dave Carr, Emily Thomas-Moore, Ray South, Patsy Asch, Chris
Ipkendanz, Jarra Hicks, Nicky Ison, Elizabeth Gardiner, Adam
Blakester, Fiona
Apologies Hugh Piper, Harold Ritch

Welcome & Updates

• Jarra wearing 'two hats' representing The Community Mutual Group and
Community Power Agency
• Open discussion about upcoming investor forum and their needs for
information about rate of return, timing of returns and ability to sell shares

Milestones, Progress & Outcomes

• All milestones on track
• DECCW have now got their A-Frame sign, with New England Wind on one side.
Can be used for events, activities, etc.

Online Survey
• Agreement to review answers from test survey to make sure that the
information gathered can actually be analysed and provide useful findings
(that is, scrutinise the actual usefulness of the answers as much as we have the
questions)
• Create a postcard or similar to promote the Surveyi
• Enable respondents from overseas
• Permit multiple answers from the same computer, however track IP addresses in
case there is an attempt to skew the responses

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Consortium Meeting Record
New England Community Wind Farm Study
Action Items
Completed
• Consortium members added to Renewable Energy Reference Group email list
• Community Survey ~ created and testing in process
• Reviewing the Notion of NESS ~ finalised at NESS Public Forum, particularly
clarification that NESS is not an implementer of initiatives. New England Wind
addresses the priority for 'new energy' identified through NESS, however is not
an initiative of NESS. Rather, it is a partnered initiative of Starfish
• Ray sourced information about Perth City Development for Arts contributions as
a useful policy and model for the community contributions of New England
Wind
• Research Matrix updated to include analysis of Hepburn Investors
• Investigate Interest in Wind Farm Study Trips ~ incorporated into Online Survey
and Expression of Interest forms

Carried Forward
• Create Strategic Questions Kit that can be used in meetings (Board, Staff, etc.) ii
• Source Energy Map for New England Tablelands iii
• Promotional Presentation being redesigned iv
• Create a pamphlet/handoutv
• Investigate a School Competition to create a Origami Wind Turbine for use as a
promotional gizmovi
• Investigate Interest in Wind Farm Study Trips vii

Promotional Priorities
Action All to look at possibilities for web links, newsletter articles, particularly
for the Online Survey and Facebook groupviii

Preliminary Findings ~ Jarra Hicks & Nicky Ison

• Despite the wide variety of meanings and uses of the word 'community' it still
has a positivity & warmth
• 'Community' is both about the processes we use as well as the outcomes &
benefits of the wind farm
• Denmark legislation requires 20% of wind farms are reserved for local
investment
• University involvement has been low to date (Ed: Note Paul Cruickshank has

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Consortium Meeting Record
New England Community Wind Farm Study
since provided some useful case studies of universities involved with wind &
renewable energy)
• Hepburn Wind will invest $10k per year into the Community Fund
• Scotland have implemented a national grants program for CRE
• Westray have made their turbine iconic, like a totem pole!
• Key question for us in regards to the investment of financial surpluses is what
does the community need? The Online Survey will help answer this.

Action Copy of Presentation to put on scribdix

Other Business
Senate Inquiry into Rural Wind Farms
Action Adam to prepare short submission from New England Wind. x

Next Consortium Meeting ~ Monday 21 March, 2-4pm

Venue to be confirmed

Future Consortium Meetings

11 or 12 April, 23 or 24 May

10 March 2011
Adam F Blakester
adam@starfishenterprises.org
m 61 419 808 900 | t 61 2 6775 2501 | skype adam.f.blakester

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i Create a postcard or similar to promote the Survey
ii Create Strategic Questions Kit that can be used in meetings (Board, Staff, etc.)
iii Source Energy Map for New England Tablelands
iv Promotional Presentation being redesigned
v Create a pamphlet/handout
vi Investigate a School Competition to create a Origami Wind Turbine for use as a promotional
gizmo
vii Investigate Interest in Wind Farm Study Trips
viii All to look at possibilities for web links, newsletter articles, particularly for the Online Survey and
Facebook group
ix Copy of Presentation to put on scribd
x Adam to prepare short submission from New England Wind.