Plea for local energy hub funding to grow community trust in renewables

Residents in some of Australia's renewable energy hotspots say they have been forced to create their own community information groups to address concerns about the nation's rapid energy transition.

The Renewable Energy Alliance and the Community Power Agency, two independent non-profit organisations, are pushing the federal government to fund 50 local energy hubs nationally to improve community engagement in renewable projects in regional areas.

The proposed network of hubs would act as physical drop-in points for communities to access information, and would ideally be staffed by locals to engage with both residents and developers.

Renewable Energy Alliance national director Andrew Bray said the omission of these hubs from the March federal budget was a missed opportunity.

"It is critical that communities who are involved in these regions are on board and they get to see some benefits out of these projects," he said.

"When communities are against it [renewable energy projects], it can create difficulties … and then you see some division, the project themselves stall, it becomes hard to meet the targets.

The Australian government aims to deliver an extra 33,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity from renewable sources every year from 2020 to 2030.

Mr Bray said physical information hubs would help make this possible.

"Really the social licence for the shift to clean energy is just as important, and we would really like to see the federal government funding efforts to make sure communities are being listened to and included in the shift," he said.

"The more you can put communities in the centre and you start off with the needs of local communities … that's going to be where you see people become more involved in the projects and see them as good for their region."

The Renewable Energy Alliance and the Community Power Agency have worked with community groups in all states except the Northern Territory.

Filling local engagement gaps

New South Wales Hunter region resident Peter Coughlin lives in what he describes as the "epicentre" of the transition to renewables, but warns the community feels left behind.

The Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone was declared by the NSW energy minister in 2022.

The need to form the Hunter Community Alliance was identified in 2018 by community leaders concerned about a lack of unity, engagement and understanding over the many flagged renewable projects for the region, and the impact they could have.

Its members come from a range of backgrounds, including unions, faith, environment and civil society groups, and the alliance has been able to employ an organiser through membership fees.

Mr Coughlan, who is a member of the Hunter Community Alliance, said local energy hubs would address a direct need in the region.

"There's a lot of concern about the misinformation or just the simple lack of understanding," he said.

"Certainly we see (community engagement) being a substantial gap in the Hunter."

The push for a hub is echoed down on Tasmania's north-west coast, where $15 billion worth of renewables projects are in the pipeline.

The Future Energy Hub, based in Burnie, is supported by the Cradle Coast Authority and has been working in partnership with local industry since 2019 to provide access to information relevant to local renewable development concerns.

Cradle Coast Authority regional development manager Veronia Terry said the job was becoming too big and help was needed.

"We are trying to play a role in that space and we can see that we don't have the resources to do the kind of work that we want to do," she said.

Ms Terry said a long-term approach during the nation's energy transition was vital, especially as some communities remained divided over the future of renewables.

"It's not a one-and-done," she said.

It is a message echoed even in areas without renewable energy projects, like Geelong.

"For us, increasingly there are going to be these projects — there are these larger conversations that are happening around renewable energy zones and identifying opportunities and areas," said Jane Spence, the CEO of energy group Geelong Sustainability.

Industry on board for hubs

The push for the establishment of local energy hubs has been backed by groups representing the renewables industry.

Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes said regional Australians deserved a focus on their needs, given that many renewable projects were based outside the major capitals.

"That's why the Smart Energy Council strongly backs growing call across Australia for the federal government to invest in local energy hubs," Mr Grimes said.

This sentiment has been backed by the Clean Energy Council — one of Australia's peak bodies representing the renewable energy industry.

"Through local energy hubs, communities can come together with project developers in a way that's co-ordinated, practical and sensible — it's a 'win-win' for everyone," said Arron Wood, the council's chief impact officer.

"The Clean Energy Council supports the need for increased investment into local energy hubs, given their critical role in bringing industry and regional communities together to ensure that the rollout of renewable energy projects delivers mutually beneficial outcomes."

'More to do'

The Australian government said it was aware of the push for local energy hubs.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen pointed to the 2023 energy community engagement review as evidence of the government's willingness to engage with residents.

"While the Coalition spent a decade ignoring concerns within regional communities we've acted on our Community Engagement Review and empowered the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to be not only a source of information but to help ensure best practice among developers and industry," a spokesperson for the minister said.

"While the Developer Ratings Scheme is getting underway we know there is more to do to get a better deal for energy communities.

"We continue to work across governments and communities to implement the recommendations of the Community Engagement Review."