Our shift to renewable energy is not just from fossil fuels to wind and solar. Increasingly, our energy production is going local – into communities, homes and businesses. Our energy consumption has always been local but now is challenged to be smart, flexible and variable.
With such momentous technology realignments, it’s easy to forget that people are involved. We must expect that our energy transition will change us culturally and change how we organise ourselves. Not trivial impacts.
Community offers a social “glue” that will help us do this well. Community energy groups across the country have been championing a better energy system for over 20 years. In fact, “community” keeps showing up as the answer to everything – from electrification to resilience. But not in the mainstream narrative, which continues to focus almost exclusively on customers and energy providers….
This article in Renew Economy is the culmination of an Energy Consumers Australia grant build policy capacity and raise the voice of community energy into the national energy transition debate. Energy Together regularly attends policy forums on electric efficient homes, low income and hardship consumer advocacy and climate action. And at each turn, we remind advocates that the community scale is important.
In the article Heather argues that:
1. The energy system is changing – and so must we
2. Community solves problems that markets and governments don’t
3. Community energy multiplies investment
4. Trust lives locally
5. Community protects and prepares
6. “Community” isn’t just a vibe – it’s governance
7. Community is a practical frame, not a partisan one
8. Time is short – but the work is worth it
Image Credit: Photo of wonderful community battery supporters in Narrabri
