AGL Energy Limited (AGL) will host the first Community Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting for the Broken Hill Solar Plant on 1 May 2014, marking a milestone for the $150 million project. 

AGL will deliver the 53 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Broken Hill in partnership with the Federal Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the NSW Government, the Broken Hill City Council, local community and project partners First Solar. 

AGL’s Project Manager for the Broken Hill Solar Plant, Adam Mackett, says the CCC meeting is an important part of AGL’s community engagement process. “We’re excited to kick off our first CCC meeting in Broken Hill and look forward to building relationships with the local community. 

“The CCC will provide a forum for community input and to discuss key topics of interest about the project. It’s a voluntary committee which will include various stakeholder and community representatives interested in the project". 

Interested community members are welcome to attend the meeting at the Broken Hill Centre for Community, 200 Beryl Street, Broken Hill, from 6pm. 

“It’s a busy time for us in Broken Hill, as we’ll also be attending the Broken Hill Agfair this Friday and Saturday, where we are the Energy and Safety sponsor”, said Mr Mackett. 

Construction for AGL’s Broken Hill Solar Plant is scheduled to start July 2014, and is expected to be completed by November 2015. 

AGL anticipates the Broken Hill Solar Plant will create up to 150 construction jobs, produce enough electricity to power more than 17,000 average NSW homes, and provide significant financial flow on benefits to the Broken Hill community. 

The Broken Hill Solar Plant is the second of two plants that AGL is building in western NSW. The 102 MW Nyngan Solar Plant began construction in January 2014 and is expected to be completed by June 2015. The two plants, worth $440 million, will be Australia’s largest utility-scale solar projects. 

About AGL 

AGL is one of Australia's leading integrated renewable energy companies and is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for our investors, communities and customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL operates retail and merchant energy businesses, power generation assets and an upstream gas portfolio. AGL has one of Australia's largest retail energy and dual fuel customer bases. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, landfill gas and biomass. AGL is Australia's largest private owner and operator of renewable energy assets and is looking to further expand this position by exploring a suite of low emission and renewable energy generation development opportunities. 

About the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) 

ARENA was established by the Australian Government as an independent authority to make renewable energy technologies more affordable and increase the amount of renewable energy used in Australia. ARENA is funded to 2022 to invest in renewable energy projects, support research and development activities, and increase industry and community knowledge about renewable energy. 

About NSW Government support for renewable energy 

The NSW Government supports the development and uptake of the renewable energy in the state. The NSW Renewable Energy Action Plan will be the main driver for increasing the uptake of renewable energy in the state. The plan’s three goals and 24 actions will guide NSW’s renewable energy development and support the national target of achieving 20% electricity from renewable sources by 2020 at least cost to the energy customer and with maximum benefits to NSW. 

The NSW Regional Clean Energy Program (RCEP) and the Renewable Energy Advocate will work closely with NSW communities and the renewable energy industry to facilitate the development of renewable energy projects, increase renewable energy generation in NSW and help remove barriers and promote investment in renewable energy.


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