It is with sadness that we let you know that one of our founders – Nicky Ison is moving on from Community Power Agency.

However, it is with excitement that we wish her well in her new job with WWF as their new Energy Transition Manager.  Nicky will be leading WWF’s new renewable exports campaign (700% renewables anyone?).

For more than a decade Nicky has worked to grow a vibrant community energy sector.

From five community energy groups when she and Jarra started there are now more than 110 across the country working to democratise our energy system and tell a powerful story of how communities can lead and benefit from acting on climate and shifting to renewables.

We want to thank Nicky for her amazing contribution to Community Power Agency.  Some highlights include:

• Bringing together 620 people in Melbourne Town Hall for the Community Energy Congress, including 25 Aboriginal leaders to talk about how we drive a faster and fairer transition to clean energy.
• Writing the Homegrown Power Plan and Repower Australia Plan.
• Running numerous workshops and speaking at events with communities across the country, including the inaugural events of Totally Renewable Yackandandah, Repower Shoalhaven and most recently Capricorn Coast Community Energy in Yeppoon in Central Queensland.
  Winning community energy policy commitments particularly from the NSW and Victorian Governments. 
• Pioneering Solar Gardens and launching the Solar for All Campaign this week. 

Check out CPA’s great video for a snapshot of some of the things we’ve achieved over the years.

While Nicky is a big loss, Community Power Agency will continue to kick community energy goals on the ground, with communities, in the media and politically without her.

Should you be interested in energy justice, democratising our energy system, demonstrating how clean energy is the future for communities across this sunburnt country, please get in touch with the CPA team of Jarra, Fran, Tom, Elizabeth, Ella and Kristy.

We’re also pleased that Nicky intends to stay on the board of CPA so is not leaving the community energy movement entirely.

Two weeks ago, CPA Director Nicky Ison and Luke Reade from Energetic Communities were invited to Yeppoon to run a community energy workshop by the excellent folks at 350.org Central Queensland. 

We are pleased to report that the coast is beautiful and the enthusiasm for community energy is high.  Forty people turned out for our Community Energy workshop, brimming with ideas for community energy projects.  We were excited to find out that Yeppoon already has a tradition of community energy, having run a series of solar bulk buys earlier this decade.

As such its our pleasure to welcome the newest community energy group to our movement – Capricorn Coast Community Energy (name TBC). If you are keen to know more about their plans or to help them please contact Tom Henderson at thomashenderson89@gmail.com.

This week Community Power Agency was excited to launch our newest campaign – Solar for All. 

The campaign which is backed by a growing number of organisations, is calling on sate governments to ensure all Australians can access solar, no matter where they live or how much they earn.
We’d love you to get involved in the campaign by:

• Sharing our Solar for All and solar gardens explainer video (also on Twitter)
• Emailing your state energy minister
• Officially endorsing the campaign (email us your logo, do some local media and start lobbying your state government using the Solar for All policy documents).

You can also check out some of the media from the campaign so far, including a great story on Prime7 and a write-up on One Step off the Grid. Thanks to everyone who has supported the campaign so far.