Renewable energy and grid investment can and should be done well in Australia – with communities, farmers, workers, environment and First Nations groups involved in and benefitting from the developments in their regions.
Key opportunities to improve on current settings are articulated in our submission to the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commission in 2023, in the recently released Transmission Guide, which we co-developed with several environment, union and community organisations, and in a Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity guide developed with The Energy Charter, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation and industry partners.
While the Inquiry is focussed on on Australia’s energy institutions and governance, what they should add to that is what communities hosting renewable energy need right now? We know that is near-term, local support to engage directly with the energy shift, and we calling for that investment
Local Energy Hubs
Over the past year, we have been campaigning with the Community Power Agency and Friends of the Earth to build support for the Federal Government to invest in Local Energy Hubs. We have found significant support from local government, regional leaders, farmers and developers for their role, and continue to hear that the Hubs concept would fill a clear gap in accessible, locally relevant information and engagement.
5 regional stories the Select Committee Inquiry needs to hear
A new short film series by The New Joneses showcases the stories of regional communities in the thick of Australia’s shift to renewable energy. They clearly articulate a range of issues that the Select Committee Inquiry on Energy Planning and Regulation should be focussing on:
- How can traditional energy regions continue supplying power to our country via offshore wind? (view film here)
- How can communities benefit from hosting large scale renewable infrastructure like wind and solar farms? And, what are the pros and cons of living next door to a wind farm? (view film here)
- How can communities own large scale renewables themselves? (view the film here)
- How can regional communities reliant on heavy industry be powered by offshore wind? (view the film here)
- Farmers have farmed with transmission for decades - what can we learn? (view film here)
Each person telling their stories in these films agrees that Local Energy Hubs would support their communities in the shift to renewable energy. They would all welcome the opportunity to meet with the Committee should the opportunity arise.