Southern Downs Regional Council to consider community energy project by Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network

As inflation continues to tighten the belts of Southern Downs residents, the opportunity to help fund a community energy initiative could power a sustainable future for the region. Find out how you could contribute here.

In a first for the region, a community-funded energy initiative has been propsed by a Granite Belt organisation which could save its investors thousands on their energy bills.

Southern Downs community group Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network has proposed a project to Southern Downs Regional Council that would see the community raise funds for renewable energy projects that would contribute to state government renewable energy targets.

Energetic Communities Association successfully implemented Queensland’s first community energy project at Salisbury’s Food Connect Shed, which now supplies solar powered energy to more than a dozen social and business enterprises in the area, profiting a small return on their overall energy costs and circulating the funds around the community.

The initiative is the brainchild of Energetic Communities Association president Luke Reade, who was inspired during an overseas trip to Jutland, Denmark the home of Tvindkraft; the first community-initiated wind turbine energy efficiency project powering the schools in neighbouring villages.

“The initiative helps to ensure that the money spent can be circulated in the local community by utilising local trades to do the instillations,” Mr Reade said.

The framework of GBSN’s presentation for the proposed project outlines the implementation of solar panels on the roofs of council owned building and local businesses which could see a reduction in the energy costs and provide a long-term financial return for participants.

If approved, the project would coincide with Energetic Communities core model, which sets out principles for how a community can raise funds for a renewable energy project of their own, whether it’s solar, wind, biodiesel or any other source of renewable energy and contribute to the state governments target of 70 per cent in renewables by 2032.

Queensland's first community funded energy project, powered by solar panels a top of Salisbury's Food Connect Shed.

Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network president Rick Humphries said the group received a positive response from council to the project and are now in the process of arranging for further data to be gathered before an official decision can be made.

“We conducted a rough census around the region earlier in the year to gauge community interest in participating in the program and had a good number of interest,” Mr Humphries said.

“There will need to be more data gathering and liaising with other stakeholders as well as state laws and regulations to consider before council can be satisfied this is a good deal, but we’re hoping this will happen within the next month.”

The state government announced its $62bn bold energy and jobs plan last year and is now partnering with the Local Government Association of Queensland to find ways to plan and implement future sustainable and renewable energy projects and ensure climate risks are factored into planning and development decisions across Queensland.

Originally published as Southern Downs Regional Council to consider community energy project by Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network