I’m writing to compliment Byron Shire on the Byron Solar Revolution symposium organised by Dieter Horstman and his team and held at the Byron Eco Park over the weekend.
I attend lots of community meetings around the country, but this meeting was exceptional.
Not only was it a sell-out, but it was attended by many community leaders who outlined their varied initiatives to deliver clean, community-owned electricity.
The initiatives are derived from world’s best practice adapted to local conditions, and include the establishment of a community-owned electricity retailer for northern NSW, innovative models for funding the uptake of solar power by individuals and business, what must be an Australian first in delivering battery storage, and new ways of accounting for solar electricity across properties with a common owner.
Reading your (Byron Shire Echo) newspaper has made me aware that these initiatives are just one aspect of a community determined to deliver excellence through collaborative participation.
In this Byron Shire is leading the nation.
Sincere congratulations.
(Professor) Tim Flannery, the Climate Council
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
