17 April 1995

       Environmental Group Joins Electricity Production Industry.

The new owner of the 60-kilowatt Breamlea windgenerator, the 
Alternative Technology Association Inc. (ATA) announced today 
that it is legally supplying pollution-free electricity to the 
Victorian electricity grid. The industry regulatory body, the Office 
of the Regulator-General has informed the ATA that its grid 
connection will remain legal until at least 31 December 1995, 
when an exemption from the requirement to have an electricity 
generating licence runs out.

ATA spokesperson Dr Michael Gunter said: "We are optimistic 
that no serious obstacles will prevent the wind generator feeding 
power to the grid for the next ten to fifteen years. However the 
imposition of heavy licence fees could cripple our operations at 
Breamlea and scuttle our agreement with the buyer of the power."

A First for Victoria
The ATA claims to be the first independent body in Victoria to 
sell "Greenhouse-friendly" electricity through the grid. Expected 
annual production is 100,000 kilowatt-hours, which saves 1.4 
million kilograms of CO2 over ten years.
	"Wind power has an exciting potential along the Victorian 
coastline, especially in Western Victoria." said Dr Gunter. 
"Electricity customers should rightly be concerned about 
Greenhouse gas emissions, the number of power blackouts due to 
overloaded wires, and the inefficiency of transmitting power all 
the way from the Latrobe Valley. Wind power addresses all of 
these issues and will provide a boost to the region in the form of 
capital investment, construction jobs, regular income for 
landowners, and a potential focus for eco-tourism. Because of 
Victoria's heavy reliance on low-grade brown coal, this state has 
a great opportunity to reduce Greenhouse emissions by the 
introduction of wind power."

Background
The Alternative Technology Association is a Melbourne-based 
community group with members in all states. Membership is 
open to all. It is active in promoting renewable and sustainable 
technologies through a quarterly magazine "Soft Technology" 
(issue no. 52 just published), and through mobile displays - the 
Energymobile and the Solar Shuttle: vehicles with working 
displays of solar, wind and other renewable technologies.
The Breamlea wind generator, located between Torquay and 
Barwon Heads, is an Australian-made machine, erected by the 
former SECV in 1987 for a cost of about $200,000. Industry 
rationalisation resulted in its sale by tender in 1994. The ATA's 
successful bid was $18,000. A dedicated group of ATA members 
has been working hard for several months on an entirely 
voluntary basis to overhaul the mechanical, electrical and control 
systems of the wind generator. Damage to the mounting bolts of a 
crucial gearbox meant that the machine was not operational when 
purchased. It ran very well for 2 months from 8 December 1994. 
Then a faulty fuse in PowerCor's distribution wires kept the 
machine out of action for most of  February and March 1995 (it 
took a long time to track-down this intermittent fault!).  Then 
followed a couple of months with hardly any wind! However we 
are pleased to report that production for June has been right on 
target, and we are looking forward to more windy weather in the 
coming months.

Weather presenter challenge
For a TV weather report with a difference, the ATA offers to an 
intrepid presenter the opportunity to report live from the top of the 
operational windgenerator. The tower is of solid tubular steel 
construction, and internal ladders provide easy access to the top. 
A wide-angle video shot would provide with complete safety, a 
dramatic visual backdrop of the one-tonne, 16 metre diameter 
rotor in action.

Further Information
Michael Gunter is available until Monday 3 July and again from 
15 July on 03 9376 7515. The ATA office will also be able to 
provide a spokesperson on 03 9650 7883. Our local members can 
arrange on-site interviews on ground or at the top of the 22-metre 
tower.

Alternative Technology Association Inc.
National Office, 247 Flinders Lane
Melbourne, 3000
(03) 9650 7883 FAX (03) 9650 8574