INDI Independent federal MP Helen Haines is continuing to pursue Local Energy Hubs in regional Australia, believing they are "the vital missing link" with communities, in the nation’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
She recently hosted a briefing in Canberra alongside Hunter MP Dan Repacholi, with industry stakeholders, discussing about where and how the hubs could be rolled out across Australia.
Local Energy Hubs are a proposed network of outreach centres that would be staffed by employed locals who are trusted and neutral to assist communities navigating renewable energy and transmission projects, while helping local households, businesses and farms to lower their energy bills and electrify.
Dr Haines believes the hubs would support regional communities navigate opportunities as part of the transition to renewable energy and the nation achieving its net zero emissions target by 2050.
The hubs are part of Dr Haines’ Local Power Plan that was co-designed with community energy groups and inspired the Australian Local Power Agency Bill, which she introduced into the Parliament, but failed to receive government support and did not become law.
Dr Haines said the hubs would support regional towns and organisations to develop renewable energy project models that benefit their communities and provide information and clarification to local people about how the transformation will impact them.
“The creation of a network of Local Energy Hubs would assist regional towns, industry and organisations to access reliable information about Australia’s energy transformation and support genuine regional development and community benefit,” she said.
“The hubs would create avenues for local participation in the energy transformation and assist in obtaining the social licence needed to achieve our decarbonisation goals."
Meadow Creek and Dederang are two communities in Dr Haines’ electorate of Indi where renewable energy storage and generation projects have raised community concerns.
The fast-tracking removal of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appeals process for renewable energy facilities has been a key component that has fuelled local opposition against the facilities.
“The shift to renewables is being strongly felt across regional and rural communities who sense this shift is happening to them, rather than with them," she said.
"Community-led, co-designed projects will always deliver better results for local people.
“The Federal Government has an opportunity and responsibility to support all regional communities involved in the energy transition.”
The Net Zero Economy Authority Bill was legislated earlier this year and although Dr Haines' amendment to include the hubs was not adopted, she said there is still scope for the Local Energy Hub initiative to receive funding.