The New Energy Jobs Fund program from DELWP has already supported 33 projects related to community renewable energy in 2017. The types of projects range from feasibility studies, development of business cases, and also project capital. They can be seen here.
The Victorian Government awarded a $200,000 grant to Newstead 2021, a local community group, to transition their town to 100 per cent renewable energy. Newstead, near Castlemaine in Central Victoria, has approximately 500 homes and a commercial high street. The project is about Newstead 2021 develop and implement a model for supplying the town’s homes and businesses with 100 per cent renewable energy from a community-scale grid.
The Victorian Government awarded a $100,000 grant to Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group to build a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Black Forest Timber Mill in Woodend. The commissioned system now supplies the Mill’s tenants with solar power and a funding stream to support future renewable energy projects in the area.
In February 2018, the National Community Energy Congress was held at Melbourne Town Hall on 27-28 February. The event brought together over 600 people from community energy groups across Australia, renewable energy developers, policy makers, network companies, retailers, councils, NGOs and regulators, lawyers, financiers all united in their goal to reduce carbon emissions and work towards a just energy transition.
