The proposed turbines would be similar in size to the one on Brooklyn Hill in Wellington.

It's an electrifying thought – oodles of power and no costly monthly bill.

A group of residents from Paekākāriki, north of Wellington, are looking to use land above Transmission Gully to create a do-it-yourself electricity source for the entire community.

Community Trust member Murray Williams said three turbines on the Paekākāriki Hill could supply all the power for 1152 households, leaving enough left over to sell.

SUPPLIED The turbines would be prominent from Transmission Gully, but only the tips could be seen from the coastal side of the hill.

Four years of research and wind-monitoring have gone into the proposal, which would be only New Zealand's second community investigation into renewable energy, and it's something even the competition says is possible.

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Spearheaded by Williams and Graham Coe, the project would see three 900-kilowatt turbines – each the same size as the one on Wellington's Brooklyn Hill – built on land above the Gully route for an estimated cost of $5 million.

SUPPLIED The project, if approved by residents, would be the country's second community-led initiative into renewable energy.

How the project was financed would be decided by the community, with options for it to be a joint venture or entirely community or investor-owned, Williams said.

The noise from the turbines would not be heard in the village and, while they would be visible from the $850m highway due to open in 2020, only the tips would be seen from most of the seaside township.

"There is one small window where you can see all of one turbine, and that's from the public toilets," Williams said.

SUPPLIED The three turbines could generate enough power for the entire town, and its neighbours.

Electra general manager Max Feickert​ said the company had been in recent discussions with the community group about connecting to its existing network.

"While Electra is not part of this project, it is technically doable and we understand they are looking further at their development timelines and financing."

Community consultation on the proposal began with a meeting on Sunday. With the next step being a $150,000 resource consent, Williams said the support of residents was critical.

JOEL MAXWELL/STUFF The Paekakariki escarpment track runs along the hills above the Centennial Highway north of Wellington.

"If you were going to go out and raise money, you want to be very very sure that people in the village want it. If they don't, we just leave it."

He cited Blueskin Bay, north of Dunedin, where a resource consent for three turbines was denied by the Environment Court after some residents vehemently opposed the project.

"We've watched the ups and downs of Blueskin Bay, and the big lesson is without the community support you're dead.

"It's their choice, we definitely don't want to lead anything beyond saying there's a real chance there, be it what you make of it."