Sun kids shine

By Tania Martin
HILLS children sold their old toys last week to help raise money for a hills community solar power centre.
In an Australian-first initiative hills people are working to raise money to set up the centre.
Since August more than 50 hills people have joined the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association, which was set up as an official body for the power station project.
The idea is for people to buy solar panels or a share of a panel, which will be placed on the roof of Emerald Primary School to create the community solar power centre.
The power generated from the panel would then be transferred to a power grid and the people involved in the project would be able to get a rebate from the power company.
Emerald Primary School last week held its annual toy sale fundraiser but this year all the money from the sale will be put into the school’s environmental fund to help purchase solar panels.
Teacher Leigh Johnson said the school had raised $7000 but wanted at least another $12,000 for the project.
Mr Johnson said the school has also qualified for a grant of $8000 under the Solar School Rebate program.
He said all the proceeds raised from the school fate on Saturday 10 November would also go towards the school’s solar panel fund.
The Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association is also calling on local traders to contribute to a community solar panel.
Association president Peter Cook said the idea is for local businesses to contribute $25 or more towards the cost of a community funded solar panel.
He said the panel costs $1300 and is urging businesses to join this Australian-first initiative to bring a community solar power centre to the hills.
Mr Cook said money generated from the community panel would go to the association to invest in new projects with each panel only expected to return $30 to $40 each year.
But he said the project is not about making money but about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr Cook said it was fantastic to see the Emerald Village Committee as the first group to make a $25 donation to the community panel.
“We are trying to make it unbelievably easy for people to make that first tiny step to make a difference for our world,” he said.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved in the project can call Mr Cook on 5968 2824.