Blog
Ensuring the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme delivers for host regions
March 25, 2024
RE-Alliance and Community Power Agency co-authored a submission to the Government on the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS). The CIS will bring forward government support for 23 GW of new renewable energy generation and...
Read MoreRE-Alliance calls for governments to invest in building trust for Australia’s clean energy shift
March 01, 2024
Today’s response by the Energy and Climate Ministerial Council to Andrew Dyer’s Community Engagement Review means Australia can move forward in securing an energy transformation that delivers long-term benefits to regional Australia. RE-Alliance is...
Read MoreBetter Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide
February 27, 2024
The intersecting crises of accelerating climate change and ecosystem decline present a challenge for the switch to renewable energy. We need to build new infrastructure to replace fossil fuels and at the same time,...
Read MoreHere we go again: Busting myths and misinformation on the Victorian blackouts
February 16, 2024
Storms caused one of the largest outage events in Victoria’s history last week, resulting in half a million people going without power. Almost as damaging is the predictable political debate and the swift publication...
Read MoreCommunity engagement has no cookie-cutter approach: It’s time to start listening
February 07, 2024
– Andrew Bray, National Director, RE-Alliance. The start of the 2024 federal parliamentary year has brought the building of new energy infrastructure across rural and regional Australia into sharp focus. The majority of regional...
Read MoreRE-Alliance response to AEIC community engagement review
February 02, 2024
Today the Community Engagement Review by Australia’s Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC) was released, with Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen accepting the recommendations “in principle”. Lines attributable to Andrew Bray, National Director of...
Read MoreHow we’re spending January 26
January 25, 2024
– Tony Goodfellow, Advocacy Manager, RE-Alliance. At RE-Alliance, we believe that our transition to renewable energy gives us an opportunity to build a better future – for our communities, environment and economy. We are...
Read MoreSubmission to NSW Draft Energy Policy Framework & Guidelines
January 11, 2024
In December 2023, NSW released a revised energy policy framework and updated planning guidelines for wind farms, solar farms, benefit sharing and transmission projects. RE-Alliance strongly supports the accelerated build-out of renewable energy technologies,...
Read MoreWe're hiring – Join the RE-Alliance team in 2024
December 22, 2023
We're hiring! Join the RE-Alliance team in 2024. We're currently looking for a: Senior Campaign Manager Senior Media Specialist Queensland Community Engagement Manager Senior Campaign Manager The Senior Campaign Manager will develop and oversee...
Read MoreAEMO: Community acceptance the key for huge buildout of transmission and renewables
December 21, 2023
Coal is exiting rapidly, renewables are urgently needed, and community acceptance is key, says AEMO’s Draft 2024 Integrated System Plan. Last Friday, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australia’s central grid authority, released the...
Read MoreBuilding Stronger Communities – Community benefit funds report
December 13, 2023
The third edition of our Building Stronger Communities report investigates how renewable energy is contributing to regional Australia through community benefit funds. We aim for this report to help build a fairer energy transition,...
Read MoreJoin our team as an Operations Coordinator
November 23, 2023
We're currently looking for an Operations Coordinator to join our team. Work From Home – Location negotiable 0.8 - 1.0 FTE - Flexible hours available No closing date: applications will be reviewed as they arrive...
Read MoreSubmission on the proposed Illawarra offshore wind area
November 15, 2023
RE-Alliance recently responded to the Federal Government’s consultation on the proposed offshore wind area in the Illawarra coast region of NSW. We support offshore wind as a key technology that will enable New South...
Read MoreHow do we move forward after the referendum?
October 20, 2023
On Saturday, Australia had a unique opportunity to acknowledge the 65,000-year history of our First Nations people and to give them a say in matters that affect them. We let that opportunity slip and...
Read MoreSubmission to Tasmania’s Government Administration Committee Inquiry into Energy Prices in Tasmania
October 17, 2023
RE-Alliance recently provided a submission to the Inquiry looking into energy prices in Tasmania. There are two main areas of focus for this Inquiry: Factors that impact energy prices for Tasmanians Opportunities and challenges...
Read MoreSubmission to Australian Energy Infrastructure Commission's Community Engagement Review
September 29, 2023
RE-Alliance recently provided a submission to the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s Community Engagement Review. The Commissioner, Andrew Dyer, has been observing the way energy companies engage with communities for around eight years. A few...
Read MoreSubmission to AEMC draft rule on enhancing community engagement in transmission building
September 28, 2023
RE-Alliance responded to the draft rule from the Australian Energy Markets Commission (AEMC) on enhancing community engagement in transmission projects. The AEMC sets the rules for the energy market and provides policy advice to...
Read MoreSubmission on Queensland's draft Renewable Energy Zone Roadmap
September 25, 2023
RE-Alliance recently responded to the Queensland government's draft Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Roadmap, with our key call being that the Roadmap place communities at the heart of all planning and engagement throughout each stage...
Read MoreUpdated energy forecast predicts ‘tight’ summers and urges delivery of projects to meet our needs
September 08, 2023
– Bridget Ryan, Policy & Industry Engagement Manager, RE-Alliance. With winter coming to an end, the Australian Energy Market and system Operator (AEMO) released its 6-monthly forecast of our energy situation over the coming...
Read MoreSubmission to Queensland Updates to State Code 23: Wind farm development & planning guideline
September 04, 2023
We recently responded to the Updates to Queensland’s State Code 23 - Wind Farm Development and associated Planning Guidance. We note that Queensland’s planning framework for wind farms is a key enabler for the...
Read MoreHave your say on Queensland’s Wind Farm framework
August 31, 2023
Proposed updates to the Queensland ‘State Code 23’ for Wind Farms are open for feedback until 4 September, 2023. The Wind Code is a crucial component of project assessment and approvals for wind projects...
Read MoreWhat does the future of regional Australia look like?
July 27, 2023
– Neville Mattick, Community Engagement Manager, Central-West Orana REZ, RE-Alliance. Farmers, graziers and our regional communities have had plenty of reasons to be gloomy about the future over the past 15 years. Worsening floods,...
Read MoreAustralia’s first-ever large-scale renewables projects co-owned by First Nations communities
July 21, 2023
– Tony Goodfellow, Advocacy Manager, RE-Alliance. Australia has its first-ever plans for a large-scale renewable energy project that is co-owned by First Nations people – and not one, but two of these projects were...
Read MoreIntroducing our new Policy and Industry Engagement Manager
July 17, 2023
– Bridget Ryan, Policy and Industry Engagement Manager, RE-Alliance. I’m so chuffed to be on board as the Policy & Industry Engagement Manager with the Renewable Energy Alliance. I joined in May and have...
Read MoreSubmission to NSW Parliament Inquiry into undergrounding transmission for renewable energy
July 14, 2023
RE-Alliance is actively engaged in New South Wales on community engagement and environment issues associated with renewable energy and transmission projects. We welcome to opportunity to respond to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the feasibility of...
Read MoreVictoria releases new transmission framework that responds to key feedback on community engagement
June 30, 2023
The new Victorian Transmission Investment Framework (VTIF) was released earlier this month. It will set in place a new structure for transmission infrastructure and Renewable Energy Zones in Victoria. In outlining the new framework,...
Read MoreSubmission to the Queensland Consultation on Energy (Renewable Transformation & Jobs) Bill 2023
June 29, 2023
RE-Alliance welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the draft Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023. We are pleased to see the bill addressing factors to achieving Queensland's renewable energy generation targets...
Read MoreOur industry round table highlights the importance of cooperation and collaboration in energy transition
June 29, 2023
Cooperation and the power of collaboration were the key themes from our industry round table held in Dubbo last week. The round table brought together 16 industry representatives, 3 local council delegates and 2...
Read MoreCommunity leaders in Western VIC talk transmission with Energy Minister D'Ambrosio
June 16, 2023
Last week, we led a delegation of community leaders from Western Victoria to discuss opportunities and barriers for renewable energy transmission with Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio. There was a broad spectrum of participants including...
Read MoreQLD Govt releases draft renewables legislation to address social and technological challenges of energy transition
June 14, 2023
The Queensland Government has released a draft Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023. It will be open for consultation until Friday 30 June. RE-Alliance strongly recommends that any and all interested individuals, community organisations...
Read MoreSubmission to the AEMO’s Consultation on the draft Transmission Expansion Options Paper
May 31, 2023
RE-Alliance recognises the significance that each updated Integrated System Plan (ISP) carries and we welcome the opportunity to respond to the Australia Energy Market Operator's 2023 Transmission Expansion Options Report Consultation as a stakeholder...
Read MoreVictorian budget promises pathways for training and job opportunities in our clean energy transition
May 24, 2023
The Victorian budget was delivered this week. The government has made considerable commitments to support the switch to renewable energy. This comes in the form of support for training, establishing the State Electricity Commission...
Read MoreQueensland landholders to benefit from Australia-first approach to transmission host payments
May 18, 2023
A new payment scheme for transmission hosts and neighbours in Queensland, announced by Queensland government-owned Powerlink, has been welcomed by community advocacy organisation RE-Alliance. Queensland becomes the third state to offer payments to landholders...
Read MoreExperts weigh in on VNI West
May 16, 2023
Public engagement and informed conversations are a crucial step in ensuring our critical infrastructure developments are properly scrutinised. However, recent claims around the proposed VNI West transmission line have led the Australian Energy Market...
Read MoreA net zero what now?
May 11, 2023
– Lu Allan, Advocacy Manager, RE-Alliance. As part of this week’s budget, the Federal Government announced the establishment of a Net Zero Authority for Australia. So what is it, and how can people benefit...
Read MoreA crucial step towards community-oriented path to net zero that can also work for agricultural communities
May 05, 2023
The Federal Government will legislate a national Net Zero Authority to ensure workers, industries and communities in Australia’s traditional energy regions can “seize the opportunities of Australia’s net zero transformation.” RE-Alliance, an independent community-based...
Read MoreRegional Benefit Sharing concept
May 04, 2023
RE-Alliance and the Community Power Agency developed and shared a concept for Regional Benefit Sharing with NSW EnergyCo to offer insights and input to the design of the Central-West Orana REZ regional benefit fund....
Read MoreWhat the closure of Australia’s oldest coal-fired power station means for our energy transition
April 28, 2023
– Padmapriya Muralidharan, Communications Manager, RE-Alliance. Australia’s oldest coal-fired power station, Liddell, closed the last of its operating units today. In this piece, we explore why this is important, what this means for the...
Read MoreRE-Alliance supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart
April 06, 2023
Our vision for Australia is one where we embrace our 60,000 year-old heritage, where we cherish, honour and learn from the wisdom of the First Peoples, the oldest living civilisation on earth. As the...
Read MoreWest Victorian leaders call for transmission upgrades to unlock opportunities from renewables
March 31, 2023
– Tony Goodfellow, Victoria/Tasmania Coordinator, RE-Alliance. In a great example of the local leadership that is needed to build a successful energy transition, a local west Victorian organisation is calling for transmission infrastructure upgrades...
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