THE LOCAL POWER PLAN. A blueprint for everyday Australians to benefit from the coming boom in local, cheap and clean power. SEPTEMBER 2020 THE LOCAL POWER PLAN 1 The Local Power Plan © Helen Haines MP 2020 Authorised by Helen Haines MP Independent Federal Member for Indi 117 Murphy Street, Wangaratta Victoria 3677 W helenhaines.org E [email protected] T 03 5721 7077 @helenhainesindi Design by Kindred Printed by Snap Albury Wodonga 15b Stanley Street, Wodonga Victoria 3690 Contents Foreword from Helen Haines MP 08 Executive summary 10 Introduction 12 01. Community energy in Australia 16 02. Opportunities to accelerate 20 03. The Local Power Plan 24 04. Join the campaign 34 A message from the Taungurung 35 Glossary 36 References 37 3 Our vision We could have a sunbelt of 10,000 locally-owned renewable power stations stretching from Esperance to Carpentaria, bringing new jobs, new opportunities and an infinite supply of cheap, clean, local power to regional Australia. This is the Local Power Plan. 4 THE LOCAL POWER PLAN Our vision IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE CAN BUILD A NEW GENERATION OF PROSPERITY BY CATCHING THE SUN’S RAYS AND SURFING THE PREVAILING WINDS. Helen Haines MP Baroota Solar Farm, South Australia. Photo credit: Meralli Solar. Our vision 5 A plan for us Renewable energy projects directly Community energy provides significant generate employment within the opportunities for regional and rural region and state where the projects areas. There is a great desire from are located including apprentices many people in the community to invest and trainees. Sustainability targets in medium to large scale renewable can grow to encompass long term energy projects. employment and export opportunities for our regional communities, with Renewable Albury-Wodonga excess supply of renewable energy Regional Australia is blessed with serving other parts of the state, abundant renewable energy resources. the nation and even offering export Using these locally can keep money potential. in the local community, can improve Neoen Solar Developer resilience and energy security and Photo credit: Coalition for Community Energy can help all your local organisations to Renewable energy plays a critical continue delivering the local benefits and essential role in the future of our that they are reknowned for. Four words most succinctly and community, in fact every community in effectively express the message about Australia. Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia, community energy: Clean, Cheap, Adelaide Healthy, Local. Lyn Reed, Wodonga All small regional towns should be Our hope is to see a decentralised Augusta Margaret River Community Clean Energy working towards renewable energy. It energy network where renewable Renewable energy not only reduces the cost of energy but generation facilities are located in will help the environment with clean Renewable energy means cheaper close proximity to the towns they energy. electricity and reduced greenhouse gas service. The global transition from emissions. With the addition of battery fossil fuels to renewables is inevitable Tallangatta Show Society Committee of Management storage renewable energy can make and presents significant economic regional communities more energy potential for regional Australian Renewable energy plays a significant resilient at times of blackout. communities. role in the future of all communities. Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Inc. Communities all across the country Murrindindi Shire Council need, and are actively seeking, viable I see these large-scale, grid connected The establishment of local hubs pathways to zero emissions energy. solar farms as essential in our future to deliver specialised support to Beyond Zero Emissions energy mix. These sorts of developments community energy groups in the region create jobs, increase economic activity could also provide information and Renewable energy means cheaper in local towns, reduce emissions and resources for young people to learn electricity and reduced greenhouse gas provide an important secondary income about the career opportunities emissions. With the addition of battery for farmers. in the renewables sector. storage renewable energy can make Karin Stark, Dubbo regional communities more energy North East Tracks Local Learning resilient at times of blackout— that Renewable energy provides jobs and Employment Network, Wangaratta may result from extreme weather, high and career paths to depressed rural energy demand or bushfires. communities. Essential in providing job Community energy projects are unique, and training in rural Australia. It’s an and they provide proportionately large Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions activity for the benefit of the community direct and indirect local benefits and employment opportunities; create Renewable energy will play a key role and it gives people a feeling of control in the resilience of our community as over their future. new pathways for environmental volunteering and climate action with it responds to converging crises in Manilla Community Renewable Energy Group strong economic and community ecology, economy, equity and energy. development outcomes; and, offer a Surf Coast Energy Group, Torquay Done responsibly and with an eye new model of engagement around to equality, renewable energy is an renewable energy, benefitting the Renewable energy is a really significant opportunity for regional Australia to tackle broader renewable energy sector. industry that can generate massive the entwined challenges of ecological benefits for regional Australia via cost sustainability and social justice. Coalition for Community Energy savings, jobs, investment, and social Women’s Health Goulburn North East, Wangaratta Renewable energy can and should play benefits. a role in the future of the Bass Coast Renewable energy in its various forms community. Much of regional Australia Sustainable Upper Ovens, Bright should be the major source of energy for is surrounded by rich renewable We have found that other groups who the whole of Australia. Local regionally energy resources, and as such it holds are further down the community energy owned and operated renewable energy great potential for local benefits, as path, have been very generous with projects can keep the money and work in well as the more-often discussed wider information and suggestions. We feel regional areas. societal and environmental ones. part of a movement in our region. Brent Bailey, Glenrowan Max Richter, Wonthaggi 2030 Yea: Community Energy 6 THE LOCAL POWER PLAN Community energy has a vital Renewable energy provides a role to play in further building social pathway to emissions reductions, self- licence for renewable energy, and sufficiency, community resilience and allowing everyone to access the energy redundancy for communities in benefits of renewables including those regional Australia. who are, for example, locked out of being able to access rooftop solar. Geelong Sustainability The regions can play a central role in Solar Citizens the energy transition. Our physical Community renewable energy assets and social capital are the enterprises generally have a greater foundations from which we can drive level of commitment to creating jobs in this vision of regional communities local communities including ongoing becoming the 21st century Photo credit: Friends of the Earth for Hepburn Wind. roles in management and operations. replacements for coal-fired power These contributions can help diversify stations. local employment and income and Renewable Energy Mansfield Decentralising electricity generation therefore boost local resilience during is also important from a climate economic shocks. We recognise the powerful role that adaptation perspective as some The Australia Institute community energy initiatives can communities are concerned about play in affecting local change and security of electricity supply as Renewable energy can create accelerating a much wider societal bush-fires become more frequent and economic growth and jobs. Most shift to renewable energy. severe. importantly it can create stimulus to our economy which is much needed. Clean Energy Council Barwon Region Alliance for Community Energy, Frontier Impact Group Geelong It is very important for the future of regional Australia’s long term Localised renewable energy This is a timely initiative to revitalise economic and social benefit supply has community, social and regional Australia in the context of that regional Australia sees the economic benefits for all, especially the intersecting crises the bushfires development of renewables as an if communities lead and have a stake and COVID pandemic have brought, opportunity to take the power back: in the solutions that best fit their while also contributing to action on to boost their energy resilience and circumstances. climate change as our energy system security; to lower costs; and to keep transitions to clean energy. money and jobs in their regions. Totally Renewable Beechworth Community Power Agency Enova, Byron Bay Energy independence is a pathway to build community resilience and Renewable energy (with storage) By increasing local production of increase prosperity by keeping funds offers the potential of being relatively electricity this will help keep more in regional communities. Community- independent of the grid and this money in the local community, owned energy infrastructure keeps is particularly important in the thus increasing a rural community’s money