The total amount of money the Commonwealth is offering is a staggering $1.8 billion, of which the windfall to Bathurst Regional Council is estimated to be over $2 million.

Council will have its own priorities when compiling the list for the federal government, but Power Bathurst is strongly urging council to place solar electricity at the top of its wish list.

Power Bathurst is an informal group of like-minded citizens motivated to increase the use of renewable energy across the Bathurst Regional Council area.

Council currently spends around $3.5 million a year on electricity sourced from the grid, with the cost increasing every year. At the same time, council has embarked on installing solar panels on its own buildings, but at the moment solar energy still only provides less than five per cent of council's needs.

Council has set itself the target of producing half its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

One way to get there more easily is to use part of the above government largesse to install solar panels over council's stormwater holding ponds at council's water treatment works.

Not only would they generate plentiful solar electricity, but they would greatly reduce the evaporation of our precious water resources.

Lismore Council has already installed solar panels at its water treatment plant and is well on the way to powering all its electricity from renewable sources by 2023.

Solar at the water treatment works at Bathurst will reduce council's dependency on grid electricity as well as slashing its electricity expenses.

Finally, it would not cost the council anything to install - the Commonwealth would pay for it all!