Community Energy Project 

Renewable Energy Benalla 's Community Energy Project provides a repayable loan to kindergartens and other community buildings to cover the up front costs normally involved with  solar panel installation. 
Using the CORENA 'revolving' model of funding,  a loan is provided to a  first host site  which  then repays the loan based on the savings made by having solar panels on their roof.    These funds  then  become available  to install panels on another building.
Repayments are  paid into a dedicated Benalla Renewable Energy Fund set up by BSFG.  Donations from community members and amounts received from related grants can also be paid into the Benalla Renewable Energy Fund.  
REB's first  Community Energy Project at the Munro Avenue Kindergarten was seeded by a Community Grant of $5000 from the Winton Solar Farm; a donation of $1000 from Sandy and Sue Campbell and an in kind contribution of the cost of installation from Solar Gain.  
Using​  community donations to provide solar panels for community buildings,  a  long term dream of the Renewable Energy Benalla action group, is now becoming a reality!
​Announced in December 2020, winners of  Winton Solar Farm Community Grants and funded projects  included Renewable Energy Benalla – seed funding for a new Community Energy Project

"John Lloyd, convenor of volunteer sustainability group, Renewable Energy Benalla, (an action group of Benalla Sustainable Future Group) said seed funding would enable the group to launch its Community Energy Project and progressively install solar and energy efficiency upgrades on local community buildings.

“Funding from Winton Solar Farm will enable us to provide a loan to Munro Avenue Preschool to install premium solar panels and a smart meter next month.

“With the savings they make from going solar, the Preschool can pay back this loan in a few years, at which point we will reinvest the money into providing new solar panels for another community group,” he said."

Extract from Winton Solar Farm news item -  $35,000 in social support awarded as part of Winton Solar Farm Community Grants. December 15, 2020
(This page is currently under construction)

Notice Board:

Community Energy Project - Installation of Solar Panels at Munro Avenue Kindergarten, April 9; 'Switch On'  - project launch - May 6th!
Community Energy Project News Feed 
Behind the Meter Energy Community Projects - find out what Bendigo is doing!
Banner:  Solar Panel's being installed by Solar Gain at the Munro Avenue Kindergarten on April 9, 2021.