DENISE DION Summit Sun
By now the meter should be starting to wind back for the Jindabyne Surf and Sailing Clubs after the installation of solar panels, a solar hot water system and a wind turbine on Tuesday.
Driven by the Jindabyne Yabbies Surf Lifesaving Club and Dr Matthew Nott from Clean Energy for Eternity (CEFE) the events that raised the money for the renewable energy installation, were huge successes in their own right.
The Lake Jindabyne 7km Big Swim was part of the Flowing Festival in February and attracted wide attention and support for the clean energy project.
The Jindabyne Yabbies Club is only the second, Tathra was the first, to get clean energy installed by already other clubs along the south coast are involved in similar fund raisers.
The installation not only provides a strong statement of the community’s commitment to renewable energy but is saving the club money too.
Steve Garrett from Pyramid Power, the company that carried out the installation, said that the club should never have to pay another electricity bill again because credits in the summer would pay for electricity used in the winter months.
The money saved will be put towards the next project, which is getting water tanks installed.
Yabbies President, Steve Cavanagh, was delighted with the community support. The project raised $19,500 and received a government rebate of $13,000.
An open day is planned for Saturday May 3 at 12.30 when there will be plenty of action and demonstrations on the water including a dragon boat challenge, a barbecue organised by the Jindabyne Lions and a chance to see the renewable energy system at work.