New, renewable energies are changing the way we get our energy. We are no longer reliant entirely on power from the big energy generators and companies.
We need to make sure that communities benefit from the renewable energy. The Community Energy model gives local towns and regions power over how they generate and consume electricity. Join us at a Community Energy Forum on Friday 3rd August at BPACC and find out what community energy means for you and our region. Locally generated renewable energy will create local jobs, cleaner energy and allow the community to control where their energy comes from. It means that towns can create mini-grids, where residents can trade power between themselves – powered by household solar and battery energy. This reduces reliance on the dirty and expensive national energy grid. A local community energy retailer is currently being developed to allow towns and regions to achieve their renewable energy goals. Come along and listen to some of Australia's foremost experts in the field explain how we can harness this new form of energy to build a new model of energy. Three great speakers will outline what community energy is and how we can benefit from it: Simon Corbell, Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate; Nicky Ison, Co-founder of the Community Power Agency; Alison Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Moreland Energy Foundation. This is a free event but please RSVP for the Benalla meeting by 3 August at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/benalla-community-energy-forum-tickets-47537010478 Download the Forum Flyer.
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A message from BSFG President John Lloyd with a date for our diaries....
'I have attached a notice about a Community Energy Forum from Totally Renewable Yackandandah to be followed by Festival of Dangerous Ideas discussion groups at Yackandandah. The speaker line up is truly amazing. I hope some of you can attend. John Lloyd' 'Community Renewable Energy - A Way Forward' "Totally Renewable Yackandandah are convening this timely forum to discuss and share knowledge of developments and opportunities for community renewable energy. Leading keynote speakers include Dr John Hewson (past Leader of the Federal Liberal Party); Dr Kate Auty (past Victorian Government Environment Commissioner, and current Commissioner in the ACT; and Dan Cass (The Australia Institute Energy Expert). They will inspire and provoke! As will other speakers to be announced. Totally Renewable Yackandandah will also discuss their projects . We are expecting participants from around Victoria and southern NSW. Join in more in-depth discussion groups immediately after the forum. And after that, you are welcome to join our annual street party - with music, food and cultural and activities - we'll show you a good time!" On Friday 1 December 2017 at 12:00pm - 3.30 pm LOCATION Yackandandah Public Hall 36 High Street, Yackandandah , Victoria 3749 The Forum will be followed by Group Workshop sessons. For more information, download flier below. For bookings - https://www.trybooking.com/322586 A Community Forum was held in October to discuss a future clean energy plan for Benalla. Ninety people attended to hear about the benefits of community owned renewable energy and to hear how other towns were planning for a renewable energy future.
Community renewable energy projects strengthen local economies by:
Following presentations by the guest speakers, attendees were asked to form small groups to discuss what they saw as the key opportunities and challenges of exploring a renewable energy project for Benalla. Groups recorded their ideas which will be used as the basis for planning a renewable energy future for Benalla. A Renewable Energy Working Party has been formed to progress the project of developing a future renewable energy plan for Benalla and has established the following key objectives:
A submission for funding to support this project will be made to the Victorian government's New Energy Jobs Fund. The second funding round is now open and will close on March 1st . John Lloyd Source: BSFG Newsletter, December 2016 A very successful Renewable Energy Forum was held at BPACC with over 90 people attending. The forum was facilitated by Cath Botta from The Regional Development Company Wangaratta. BSFG President John Lloyd introduced the forum then called upon Steph Ryan, Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Member of the Legislative Assembly seat of Euroa to officially open the forum. The forum then heard from the invited guest speakers, Taryn Lane - Embark and advisor to Coalition for Community Energy Mathew Charles-Jones - Totally Renewable Yackandandah and Gavin Ashley - Moreland Energy Foundation. John Lloyd and each of the speakers presentations can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on their linked names above. A number of times presenters pointed out that the transition to a renewable energy future will be assisted by using less energy, by increasing energy efficiency, then by evaluating renewable energy generation capabilities in the region. Cath Botta then asked the forum to break into small groups to consider and discuss a number of questions and to write down key ideas coming out of this. Each group then gave a brief report on their ideas. John Lloyd concluded the forum with the Next Steps in the Benalla Renewable Energy Project. Establish A Community Working Party Community members needed to form a working party to move this project forward. Beneficial to have a range of backgrounds including some business/commercial. Working party to keep community informed of progress. Complete A Funding Application Benalla Sustainable Future Group with council support to apply for funding from New Energy Jobs Fund – early 2017. Community input important. Funding would be to conduct a feasibility study of renewable energy options for Benalla and to develop a Future Energy Plan for Benalla. John Lloyd thanked those involved in assisting with the forum, in particular the support from Benalla Rural City Council and Larissa Montgomery, Council's Environmental Sustainability Coordinator.  Benalla Sustainable Future Group is organising a community forum to discuss a 100% renewable energy future for Benalla. While a significant number of households and businesses in Benalla have installed rooftop solar panels, it is time to look towards becoming a clean energy community. This would mean that Benalla would no longer rely on fossil fuel based energy which is a major contributor to green-house gas emissions. The community forum will consider the development of a renewable energy future for Benalla. Guest speakers will explain how other towns are planning for a renewable energy future, the benefits of community renewable energy, and what some of the options are for Benalla. Community members will be invited to provide input into the discussion and also invited to get involved in shaping a future clean energy plan for Benalla. This is an important development for the Benalla community and I would encourage everyone to attend the public forum and become involved in helping to develop a future clean energy plan for Benalla. A publicity flyer about the forum is provided below. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Or you can download the flyer here, Community Energy Forum Flyer.  |
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