NIMBIN is set to become Australia's most sustainable village after a development application to build a solar farm was recently lodged with Lismore City Council.
The 45kW solar farm is to be installed on the rooftops of six community-owned buildings by the end of this year.
The solar farm, in conjunction with 55 grid interactive solar systems installed in the village in 2008 and hundreds of stand alone solar systems powering homes not on the grid would make Nimbin the solar power capital of Australia.
The solar farm was paid for with a grant from the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relation's Jobs Fund program, part of the stimulus package.
The solar farm will create three permanent jobs, three short-term jobs, one traineeship and five work experience placements.
The plans for the farm were designed by Rainbow Power Company; the project was supported by at least eight community groups, and legal advice was provided by the Environmental Defenders Office.
Development applications were lodged for each host site and will need to fit within heritage planning.
original Northern Star article
Copyright Northern Star