Extract from Bega District News.
IT MAY be a case of third time lucky for Clean Energy for Eternity as once again the group has been short listed in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the award rewards excellence in the fields of scientific research and innovation, science leadership, school science and science journalism and communication.
The group is nominated in the DECC Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change.
Last year the group was runner up in the same category.
Clean Energy for Eternity founder Matthew Nott said for the first two years CEFE was the only non-funded group in the running for the award.
“We are a group that isn’t paid to do what we are doing,” he said.
“To my knowledge were the only unfunded group to be represented as a finalist.
“Being short listed really is a tribute to a large group of people who have been working tirelessly with CEFE for the last three years.
“It’s also a tribute to the support we have got from local communities.”
Mr Nott said a win this year would further promote the group and give it even more credibility and substance.
“We are always hoping to win and it is a privilege to be short listed as a finalist,” he said.
“We would love to win a national award like this as it demonstrates we are a respectable mainstream community group.
“Taking out the award would give us more weight in talking to politicians and it would strengthen the South East’s position on climate change in demonstrating the economic opportunities afforded by being pro-active about climate change in regional communities.”
However, just by being a finalist in the awards provides opportunities.
“In the first year we had a long talk with Malcolm Turnbull and last year we were able to meet Peter Garrett,” Mr Nott said.
“CEFE is a community group looking at climate change and is different in that we are a mainstream, respectable organisation looking at it in a dispassionate way as opposed to a passionate and alarmist view … we stick to the facts and the science.
“We’re all about the economics of climate change and politicians are interested in that,” Mr Nott said.
Winning an award will no doubt give the group more national exposure.
However not winning the award won’t deter the members from the group’s main objectives.
“We will continue on with our three main aims, that is, to increase awareness of climate change; continue with the group’s involvement in the lifesaving club’s energy campaign; and make further progress on the solar farm initiative.
“We will also continue to push the 50/50 by 2020 target adopted by the Eden-Monaro region, which showcases our belief that climate change is all about opportunities.”
The recent solar bulk buy deal offered across SE NSW is such an example.
“1200 households signed up for this and as a result of the deal 20 x two kwatt community installations will be up and running within the next nine months.
“This is how we communicate with local groups, by actually showing them the advantages of renewable energy.”