Energy Leadership Program
An increasing number of large-scale transmission and renewable energy generation and storage projects are proposed and underway across the Loddon Mallee and Grampians regions. Best practice processes for community engagement, benefit sharing, and coordination will be critical to limit the negative impacts of these projects on regional communities, and to maximise the many positive opportunities that development of Renewable Energy Zones present for regional communities.
Achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes for regional communities in the clean energy transition requires strong leadership and advocacy at local and regional level.
With funding support from the Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), CVGA has worked with experts at the Community Power Agency (CPA) to co-design and deliver a tailored Energy Leadership Program for local government leaders. This program is the first of its kind to be designed and delivered for councils in Victoria, building on lessons from CPAs work with local governments in renewable energy zones across Australia, and content from industry-focused training programs, tailored for a local government audience.
The program includes a series of webinars, an in-person workshop, and online mentoring sessions, and has been piloted with local government leaders from the Loddon Mallee and Grampians regions. Through this pilot, leaders received information, expert advice, and resources to enhance their understanding of best practice renewable energy development, and the role that local governments can play in their engagement with developers to guide better processes and achieve outcomes for their communities that address local needs and priorities in the clean energy transition.
Two CVGA councils have gone on to work with the Community Power Agency to draft positions statements on renewable energy development that can be used to guide further consultation with communities on their vision for the renewable energy transition in the region in the lead up to the development of new Council Plans, and the release of the first Victorian Transmission Plan and declaration of Renewable Energy Zones in 2025.
The Community Power Agency has also released a discussion paper on Regional Benefit Sharing: Creating strategic impacts for regions which provides an excellent summary of opportunities for councils and communities in Renewable Energy Zones, informed in part by reflections from the Energy Leadership Program.
The project was completed in June 2024.
Achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes for regional communities in the clean energy transition requires strong leadership and advocacy at local and regional level.
With funding support from the Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), CVGA has worked with experts at the Community Power Agency (CPA) to co-design and deliver a tailored Energy Leadership Program for local government leaders. This program is the first of its kind to be designed and delivered for councils in Victoria, building on lessons from CPAs work with local governments in renewable energy zones across Australia, and content from industry-focused training programs, tailored for a local government audience.
The program includes a series of webinars, an in-person workshop, and online mentoring sessions, and has been piloted with local government leaders from the Loddon Mallee and Grampians regions. Through this pilot, leaders received information, expert advice, and resources to enhance their understanding of best practice renewable energy development, and the role that local governments can play in their engagement with developers to guide better processes and achieve outcomes for their communities that address local needs and priorities in the clean energy transition.
Two CVGA councils have gone on to work with the Community Power Agency to draft positions statements on renewable energy development that can be used to guide further consultation with communities on their vision for the renewable energy transition in the region in the lead up to the development of new Council Plans, and the release of the first Victorian Transmission Plan and declaration of Renewable Energy Zones in 2025.
The Community Power Agency has also released a discussion paper on Regional Benefit Sharing: Creating strategic impacts for regions which provides an excellent summary of opportunities for councils and communities in Renewable Energy Zones, informed in part by reflections from the Energy Leadership Program.
The project was completed in June 2024.