If implemented, over 10 years, the Local Power Plan would create thousands of small-scale renewable power stations and save millions of dollars in power bills. It will ensure that everyday regional Australians get a fair share of the jobs that will be created in renewable energy this decade. But for this to happen, we need the government to act.
The Local Energy Plan flows from three simple facts:
- Over the next 30 years, Australia’s entire coal fleet is set to retire and be replaced by renewable energy. In the same period, $1 trillion will be spent in our electricity system.
- The vast bulk of our new renewable energy system will be built in regional Australia, in a sunbelt stretching from Esperance to Gippsland to Cape York.
- Without proper planning, everyday communities in regional Australia will miss out on the benefits of this boom.
The Plan involves 3 schemes delivered by a new independent statutory body, the Australian Local Power Agency (ALPA).
- The Local Power Scheme will support communities to develop their own energy projects;
- The Underwriting New Community Investment Scheme will underwrite mid-scale projects;
- The Community Renewable Investment Scheme will enable local communities to co-invest in new large-scale projects.
The Local Power Scheme will establish 50 Local Power Hubs across regional Australia to support communities to develop their own renewable energy projects. Each Hub will provide technical and project support to community energy groups, and work with them to access a new $310 million Local Power Fund to provide strategic development capital. Over 10 years, the Local Power Scheme will catalyse thousands of small-scale projects across Australia.
The Underwriting New Community Investment (UNCI) Scheme will provide financial certainty to new mid-scale energy generation and storage projects that are at least 51% community-owned. UNCI will unlock billions of dollars of private investment to support communities to build their local energy independence and resilience.
The Community Renewable Investment (CRIS) Scheme will implement a new requirement for any new large-scale renewable developments in Australia to enable local communities to purchase 20% of the project equity. CRIS will enable partnerships between developers and local communities to ensure that communities have the option to invest in projects happening in their area.
Become Involved
To make the Plan a reality, we need the Australian Local Power Bill 2020 to pass to become legislation and we need to secure $483 million of government funding to be invested in our regions over 10 years. The time is right to make that investment!
To help make the plan become a reality, please;
- Share the Local Power Plan Website
Tell your friends, family, colleagues and your hairdresser about our plan and get them visit this website to learn about community energy for themselves: localpowerplan.com - Join a group
Join you local community energy group eg Junee Community Power 🙂 - Get social
Share and comment on Helen’s social media posts about community energy.
Add you thoughts about the Local Power Plan and remember to include the hashtag #LocalPowerPlan - Read and share the plan
Here’s the link to the Local Power Plan PDF. Download it. Read it. Share it around. - Show your support
Add an ‘I support the LocalPowerPlan’ frame to your Facebook profile. There are three styles provided: Frame 1, Frame 2, and Frame 3 - Tell your federal MP
The Plan’s success relies on getting other representatives on board. Write to your federal MP and tell them in your own words why you want them to support the Australian Local Power Bill 2020. - Tell your state MP and local council
We need to build support with all tiers of government, business sectors and community organisations to have entire towns powered by 100% clean energy. - Build The Local Power Plan brand
Post these tiles (Tile 1 and Tile 2) on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to start a conversation about the Local Power Plan and the benefits of community energy. - Make a suggestion
Fill in the form on the Local Power Plan site to stay connected and share with us any ideas you might have about how we can spread the Local Power Plan across the country.