The organisation was this week selected as the country’s best medium scale initiative delivering benefits to its local community by climate action group 350 Australia.

It recognised the objective stated by TRY co-chair Matthew Charles-Jones that the group was “getting on with it” and creating changes for homes and businesses through solar power.

TRY was acknowledged for the work it has done in the town, including helping Yackandandah hospital raise $5000 for solar panels which are expected to save $1 million over 25 years and about 115 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

The 350 Australia report also recognised TRY’s partnership with Mondo Power, which led to the development of an Australia-first mini grid where homes can trade solar energy.

“Communities from Yackandandah to Tathra are uniting to source their own clean energy and in the process are sending a strong market signal that old-style fossil fuel energy is no longer cost effective,” the report stated.