RESIDENTS will have the chance to learn more about a renewable energy project which could bring economic benefits to the region, at a series of meetings later this month.
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The team behind a proposal to create two solar farms at Dubbo and Narromine will show a presentation about the proposed 'Dubbo Solar Hub' on Wednesday, December 16 (Narromine), and Thursday, December 17 (Dubbo).
French company Neoen is awaiting the results of an expression of interest, submitted to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) last month, to construct approximately 82,000 solar panels on 40 hectares of land east of Dubbo, and 25 hectares to the north of Narromine.
If successful in obtaining ARENA funding, the 'Dubbo Solar Hub' could start construction by late 2016.
"If not, Neoen is confident that the project still has good chances of proceeding, but in a longer timeframe," the Dubbo Solar Hub website reads.
Project manager Chris Leonard said the sites at Dubbo and Narromine were chosen following extensive consultation and mapping.
"The reason...is a combination of good solar radiance and network capacity," Mr Leonard said.
"They were the main factors. We've done mapping...on the most appropriate areas and Dubbo was one of them and it's strongly populated and far enough from the coast."
Mr Leonard said there would be many benefits for the region.
"It's going to be mostly employment, in Dubbo or Narromine there's quite a few companies who could do civil and electrical works," Mr Leonard said.
"There would be a project manager and engineers, consultants, it would basically attract quite a few people in the area and there's also some benefits to Dubbo in having some electricity generation. "It's how the electricity network will evolve - there will be more and more renewable generation and this project is contributing to this tendency."
Narromine residents and other interested parties will be able to find out more about the project by attending the meeting at the Narromine United Services Memorial Club on Wednesday, December 16, from 4:00pm.
The Dubbo meeting will take place in the River Room at the Macquarie Inn from 4:00pm on Thursday, December 17.
Both meetings will include two showings of the presentation - one at 4:30pm, and a later showing at 6:00pm - and all interested community members are encouraged to attend.
