Press release

Federal, State and Local MPs want Local Energy Hubs for regional communities

by Eleanor Buckley

A raft of Federal and State MPs and more than 40 Local Government representatives have joined a growing call for the federal government to fund and resource Local Energy Hubs: physical centres with a strong outreach program in renewable energy regions, staffed by trusted local experts. 

Community Power Agency, RE-Alliance and Yes2Renewables have joined forces to call on the Federal Government to fund Local Energy Hubs for regional communities in the upcoming Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

In August, the group delivered an open letter signed by more than 40 Local Government representatives to the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, calling for investment in Local Energy Hubs to ensure that the shift to renewables leads to meaningful, locally felt benefits.

Late last week, three federal government Illawarra MPs – the Hon Stephen Jones MP, Alison Byrnes MP and Fiona Phillips MP – made the recommendation for ‘community engagement energy hubs’ (the Local Energy Hubs model) as part of their submission to Senate Inquiry into the Offshore Wind Industry Consultation Process.


In May, Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines MP, called for a network of Local Energy Hubs to create avenues for local participations and build the trust needed in regional communities as part of the shift to renewable energy, as part of a series of amendments to the Government’s Net Zero Economy Authority Bill.

Community Power Agency Director, Dr Jarra Hicks said: “As more and more projects pop up, the more important it is to have people based in regional areas who can see the whole picture, connect the dots, help to amplify the opportunities and reduce the engagement fatigue.”

RE-Alliance National Director, Andrew Bray said: “It’s really exciting to see the level of traction that the concept of Local Energy Hubs is generating. When we speak to communities about the idea of filling a local shopfront with trusted local experts to demystify the shift to renewables – the immediate response is that it’s a no brainer.”

Local Energy Hubs would:

  • Provide easy access to information in regional communities by hiring trusted and experienced local experts, across subjects such as renewable energy developments, transmission projects, home electrification and battery storage, electric vehicles and more
  • Serve as outreach centres, providing services to support communities in understanding and participating in the shift to renewable energy 
  • Be a crucial touchpoint for developers, helping to foster trust in communities for their projects through quality communication and engagement.
  • Address barriers to the electrification of households, small businesses and farm businesses such as lack of time or quality advice
  • Tackle complex challenges like ensuring communities know exactly how to have input into, and benefit from, large-scale projects proposed for their regions.

The following politicians have publicly supported the concept of Local Energy Hubs:

Federal MPs

  • The Hon. Stephen Jones MP, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services, Member for Whitlam
  • Sharon Claydon MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Member for Newcastle
  • Alison Byrnes MP, Member for Cunningham
  • Fiona Phillips MP, Member for Gilmore
  • Dan Repacholi MP, Member for Hunter
  • Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi

State MPs

  • The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission, Member for Mill Park
  • Sheena Watt MP, Parliamentary for Climate Action and Emergency Services, Member for Northern Metropolitan
  • Alison Marchant MP, Member for Bellarine
  • Tom McIntosh MP, Member for Eastern Victoria

Plus more than 40 Local Government representatives from across Australia.

More information on the Local Energy Hubs model and campaign can be found at: localenergyhubs.org.au.

Worker installing solar panels on a roof
News

Community energy upgrade fund – here’s what you need to know

by Eleanor Buckley

Last week the Federal Government announced a new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund. At first glance, the words “community energy” sparked excitement. However, after some further digging we discovered that while it is welcome news for local councils, grassroots community energy groups unfortunately miss out. 

Grants will be available for local councils who are looking to do energy efficiency upgrades on community facilities such as libraries, pools, sporting fields and community centres. Efficiency upgrade examples include replacing energy-intensive heating in council pools with heat pumps and installing energy efficient lighting and battery storage. The aim of the program is to upgrade local facilities that simultaneously lowers energy costs and emissions. The fund adds to the $1.6 billion Energy Savings Package the Federal Government announced in the 2023-2024 budget. While the fund shows promise, it’s important to mention that the guidelines are still being developed. If you work for a local council – keep your eyes peeled for updates. 

While the fund doesn’t extend to grassroots community energy groups, a quite disappointing aspect, it is clear that the Government has taken inspiration from the community energy sector. Community energy groups around the country have been driving clean energy initiatives for over a decade, often relying on their own resources. Many of these groups have delivered projects on community facilities, like installing solar panels, to decrease carbon emissions at the same time as reducing electricity bills of key infrastructure in their town.

At Community Power Agency, we strongly advocate for a more inclusive approach to future funding. By fostering collaboration between councils and community energy groups, we can tap into the invaluable insights these groups possess and a huge amount of passion for driving projects forward, ultimately maximising the positive impact of energy upgrades. 

Grassroots groups who have paved the way

Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) have had a huge impact in their region. By partnering with Micro Energy Systems Australia, they have been able to help over 23 community groups through three different pathways: 

  1. Fully gifting PV Solar systems free of charge to community not for profit organisations, such as the Bodalla Local Aboriginal Land Council. 
  2. Sourcing grants to support the installation of PV Solar systems to community not for profit organisations, such as the Moruya Preschool.
  3. Supporting community organisations to install PV Solar systems through their Eurobodalla Solar Bulk Buy program including the Kyla Park Community Hall in Tuross Head.
Brigitte Warburton, Cathi Young, Marie Sutton and Ammanda Donnelly, with Stephen Cornthwaite (far right) of Micro Energy Systems Bodalla, who installed the school’s new solar system. Photo: SHASA.
TRY Founder, Matt Charles-Jones gives thanks at the launch event for the many collaborators on the EV Charger project.

In 2022, the town of Yackandandah celebrated another great partnership with the launch of the town’s first EV charging station. Including Victorian Government funding, community advocates, Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) partnered with community social enterprises, YCDCo (fuel and rural supplies) and Indigo Power and alongside Indigo Shire to deliver the charger to support their drive toward 100 renewables. This being just one of many innovative collaborations in new energy. 

Queenscliffe Climate Action Now (QCAN) have collaborated with the local Borough of Queenscliffe Council and Vortex Electrical to run a community solar program, aimed at increasing the uptake of solar in their community. They are doing this by leveraging the buying power of the community and partnering with contractors to make the installation of quality solar, battery and heat pump hot water systems easy and affordable. And the best part, for every solar and/or battery system installed as part of this program, Vortex is making a donation back to the community in the form of solar and/or battery products which will be used to install renewable energy systems on community buildings throughout the Borough.

QCAN treasurer Neil Mathison, Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst, QCAN secretary Peter Cook and QCAN president Kitty Walker at the Point Lonsdale Bowls Club. Photos: Vinnie Van Oorschot

These are just some examples of community energy groups taking the power into their own hands to progress climate action and deliver local benefits. We hope that in future, funds can be directed towards these groups to increase collaboration and impact.

Community Power Hubs WIN
News

Huge news for Victoria – Community Power Hubs

by Kristy Walters

A quick email in light of the recent announcement to expand the government funded Community Power Hubs program in Victoria. What a win!

Exciting times are ahead for community energy projects with this boost of funds and capacity potentially across all regions of the state. We are keen to connect with community energy groups and supportive organisations to ensure these hubs are the best they can be.

We have a lot of experience in the governance space and are happy to offer pro bono group facilitation advice and networking to develop successful collaborations to apply for these Victorian Hubs. Next Thursday we are running a free online session about good collaborative governance, email us for the details.

If you’re a community energy group or other organisation that would like to be involved in one of the Hubs – either to be a Lead Partner, offer your organisation’s support or to add your implementation ready project to a Hub application – please get in touch. See other community energy groups on our community energy map here.

For everyone else not in Victoria – join the campaign to Repower Our Communities – to win Community Power Hubs in every state and territory of Australia!

Here’s to taking the power into our own hands,

Kristy

For the whole Community Power Agency team – Kim, Ella, Elizabeth, Fran and Jarra.

https://www.repowerourcommunities.org.au/
News

Webinar recording: How community energy builds resilience and renewables

by Kristy Walters

It’s been a busy few weeks for our team, with a trip to Parliament House and regional Victoria since this webinar two weeks ago. Apologies for the delay in getting this recording of the webinar out to all of you.

The webinar recording can be found on the Community Power Agency website on our webinars page here: How Community Energy builds resilience and renewables.

For those interested in further resources and guides, there are many options:

  • Community Power Agency resources section
    We offer workshops, training and other services to help you to develop your community energy project in line with the vision and context of your community. We regularly work with councils and non-profits also.
  • Coalition for Community Energy knowledge hub
    The C4CE has good resources for various projects on their website. We encourage community energy groups to become members of C4CE.

Thanks again to those who attended the webinar and our presenters: Taryn, Lawrie and Rob. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support or connections for progressing your own energy projects.

Sunny regards,

Kristy for the Community Power Agency team

PS. Check out our latest campaign that we launched in Parliament House last week to ensure the renewables boom benefits everyone and can Repower Our Communities.

News

Guest post – Repower Our Communities

by Kristy Walters

My name is Kathryn Maxwell and I’m the president of the Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA), a community energy group in NSW. I’m writing to you today from Parliament House to launch a new campaign to Repower Our Communities along with Community Power Agency.

Sign up to support the campaign here!

Many of you have first-hand experience of the wonderful things community energy groups can achieve in towns across the country. In Eurobodalla our group has helped 10 community owned facilities install over 100 kW of solar and 20kw of batteries. However, I know that it is a real struggle to access the required resources to make more of these projects happen, whether that be funds, expertise or capacity.

That’s why I came to Parliament today with a group of farmers and other community energy representatives from regional Australia. This exciting new campaign, in partnership with Farmers for Climate Action can sidestep the climate wars by highlighting the bushfire resilience, local jobs & economic opportunities that community energy can bring to our regional communities if it’s supported appropriately.  

Join the Repower Our Communities campaign and create a groundswell of community energy support.

The Repower Our Communities campaign, based on Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines’ Local Power Plan, will build public support for the roll out of community-owned renewable energy in the regions, making sure our towns and regions benefit from the renewables boom.

There are no losers here. By keeping the focus on local jobs and benefits to our regions, the Repower our Communities campaign is a chance to avoid getting bogged down in the climate debate and get on with the job of reducing Australia’s emissions. It’s a no brainer, truly.

Join our campaign to give it the support it needs to succeed!

We farmers already know that, with government leadership, the transition to renewables could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to revitalise our farming and regional communities.

Wind and solar can be harvested throughout the year, providing local jobs and income in good times and bad. By making sure the benefits of renewable energy projects stay with us, we can increase the resilience of regional communities in the face of a changing climate.

I believe we can win this campaign. Australians love renewable energy and already right across the country, from Yackandandah to Shoalhaven, local groups are developing community-owned renewable projects. We just need the government to come to the table.

Sign up and help power Australia with community owned renewable energy.

Here’s to helping more communities transition to a renewables future,

Kathryn Maxwell

President, Southcoast Health & Sustainability Alliance (SHASA)