A PROPOSED solar farm in Capel Sound will be part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s efforts to “address climate change and move towards a clean energy future”.
The shire is seeking expressions of interest from parties wishing to lease the 10 hectare site in Truemans Road for a five megawatt solar farm. The site is in a public park recreation zone.
The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the shire was committed to demonstrating its efforts in climate change “mitigation and adaptation”.
“It’s early days for this project but we’re optimistic it could be a great initiative for the peninsula and will add significant community value to our efforts to lead the way in tackling the climate change challenge.”
Cr Simon Brooks said the community would benefit from a low carbon emissions future. “We are moving towards increased renewable energy capability and smarter, more energy-efficient solutions for meeting the peninsula’s energy needs,” he said.
A selection process and expressions of interest campaign will demonstrate community and commercial benefits and transparency in decision making, Cr Frank Martin said.
Cr Antonella Celi said electricity generated from the farm would flow into the nearby substation to offset the shire’s electricity use.
Meanwhile, council will undertake an environmental impact assessment to ensure suitability of the site and considerations for the preparation and design of the 5MW solar farm.
EOI submissions opened last Saturday (28 July) and close Monday 8 October.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 31 July 2018
