C4CE Votes – Steering Group 2015

It critical for energy sovereignty and our transition pathway that community groups can control their energy supplies (and demand!) C4CE can help shape, direct and grow the sector. I’m based in Sydney and can marshall resources and support both in NSW and nationally through my role with NEEN. I’m available and willing to cooperate with C4CE members

I feel I can contribute as an experienced director of private, public and not for profits with 17 years renewable energy experience. I’ve commissioned legal and economic research work into national energy co-ops which I can share. I’m experienced in enterprise resilience (governance, innovation) and am qualified in Applied Science (Sust Energy) and Resilience. I’m an experienced networker with access to industry, government, community and media. Trained in media, I can promote and support the C4CE policy and sector initiatives. I can support governance and raise resources in terms of capital, legal resource, academic modelling and BCCM liaison. I’m trained in social processes and enjoy the challenge of collaboration.

C4CE is set up using a collective impact and collaborative governance model; what ideas do you have to help put this approach into practice? Plenty of models that can be adapted from Scotland, Sweden and Germany with specific insights into wind and solar.

Catholic Earthcare supports communities to develop clean energy responses to improve environmental, economic, social and resilience aspects. Gareth leads the NEEN and NEEN+ operations and strategic development and would be an asset to any organisation.

Our Council has a vision articulated in the first part to a recent resolution – “In line with the Council Plan Principles, Council aims to reduce its emissions through the expansion of public and private clean energy generation. Council recognises that the recent community interest in renewable energy aligns with its commitment to sustainability through reduced emissions. It seeks to take a lead in exploring the potential for local Community Energy projects that will bring a number of benefits to the Bass Coast community. The establishment of one or more pilot projects will identify the Shire as a leader in this area and has the potential to attract interest and subsequent economic development”. I also have a thirty year personal interest in sustainability and renewable energy.

Immediate past Mayor (hence time now available) and sitting councillor with a personal interest in strategic planning (experience includes; leadership, governance, media and public speaking, inter-council collaboration, community engagement, all relating to strategy development and oversight of project delivery). – I also bring to C4CE the expertise of our council officers and executive – Deputy Chair Peri-Urban Group of Rural Councils (Victoria) – Council Audit Committee member last 2 years, also HR Committee last 2 years including recruiting a new CEO – Founding member and ex-secretary Groundswell Bass Coast (local Climate Change action group) – Founding member Victorian Wind Alliance – Ex-secretary Watershed Victoria (group seeking better water solutions than Victoria’s Desalination Plant). Author related Supply/Demand analysis. – BSc Hons (Monash Clayton) in Physics and Computing, ex-science teacher, ex-principal own engineering business.

Although our shire has many citizens concerned about energy sustainability and climate change, and a number of related groups, including the Shire, all who have a vision for improvement, little collaborative progress/action is evident. Individual memberships of C4CE may have limited success as the impetus is diluted, perhaps a Network of community interest as a member of C4CE has more potential to spread the message that change is both needed and possible. Skills and knowledge can be leveraged then to a much wider audience. This would operate in an inherently collaborative way, setting an example for groups to realise the potential, and then establish their own projects. To make substantial headway we need the maximum number of people singing from the same songbook, engaging government with collective impact at appropriate levels. Local government will assist in engaging higher levels of government here, an example potentially being the establishment of a local RET. So there is a strong message sent up the chain, and at the Grass Roots there will be an understanding that something can be done and a visible Network to help facilitate projects.

A statement from the Shire CEO Mr Paul Buckley follows: At its 10 December 2014 Ordinary Meeting Council resolved to nominate Cr Neil Rankine as the Councillor delegate to represent Bass Coast Shire Council for all its activities with the Coalition for Community Energy. Cr Rankine has a long standing interest in environmental issues and sustainable development. He was an attendee at the recent Canberra 2014 Community Energy Congress and has actively shared that knowledge with his fellow Councillors and council officers. He has expressed an interest in representing Council within this coalition, and encouraging community energy initiatives and knowledge sharing. Cr Rankine is currently a member of the local Energy Innovation Co-operative, and is the  Councillor delegate for the Gippsland Climate Change Network and the UNESCO Western Port Biosphere Reserve Group.

The Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd (MEFL) stands on the shoulders of 100 years of community based energy supply. Our organisation is proudly the first not for profit organisation in Australia dedicated to supporting its community shift to a renewable energy future but we excited by many communities across Australia undertaking the same journey. C4CE is such an important initiative, bringing together communities, organisations, government and the private sector to explore and establish community energy initiatives. MEFL wants to contribute to the C4CE Steering Group to support its strategy to build a strong national movement.

Bruce has a technical background in energy management and extensive experience in community partnership development, working for many years in advocacy roles for a national environment NGO. He holds a Masters degree in Engineering (Renewable Energy) and Graduate Certificate in Project Management. Bruce Thompson has been with MEFL for 9 years. In his current role as the Director of Major Projects for the Moreland Energy Foundation Bruce led the $10 million Moreland Solar City Project, and is responsible for the establishment of MEFL’s new flagship social enterprise Positive Charge working in partnership with local governments to reduce household emissions and energy costs through discounted energy efficiency products and tailored advice. Bruce was awarded the Brian Robinson Foundation Fellowship in 2007 for young environmental leadership and travelled to Europe to research community based decentralised energy and low-income energy efficiency programs. Bruce has extensive experience in financial and governance roles in the community sector, is Chair of a community owned Childcare facility and recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course.

UMEFL works on the principle that change happens through collaboration and our activity is built around partnerships. Beyond the inherent benefit of sharing experience and expertise across the community sector, we believe there is significant benefit in reaching out to other key sectors where community energy may bring together new voices and opportunities (schools, sporting clubs, councils)

Bruce as Director, Major Projects leads MEFL’s strategic project development and delivery and brings a combination of expertise and capacity to represent the organisation’s collective experience.  Bruce is responsible for MEFL budget management and financial reporting to the Board and is currently utilising this experience to support the C4CE Secretariat in budget development and fundraising. Bruce has demonstrated commitment and continuity through supporting the C4CE establishment and participating in the interim steering committee.

I believe community RE is the route to making fossil fuel free energy a reality – overcoming the logjam created by vested interests and science skeptics. Acting as a link between State Government and the community energy sector is a role I am good at and has resulted in concrete benefits for both C4CE and individual projects

I have been an integral part of C4CE since inception, have assisted the NSW OEH funding for the conference and for the grant rounds, and my understanding of RE technologies is substantial and up to date

My experience with similar structures in the ‘No Interest Loans’ and ‘Sustainable Region’ sectors has led me to focus on the need for a structured, well funded and tightly directed ‘backbone’ function to support the model. I am prepared to be part of a loose knit ‘CRE virtual meeting place’ but would prefer that the coalition becomes a viable entity able to supply detailed technical and financial support to on ground projects

Paul is the most competent member of OEH to lead the development of community RE, and his contributions to date are really appreciated by our agency – Grant Christopherson and Lauren Zell, Regional Clean Energy Coordinators

To play a role in ensuring that we collectively see the best outcomes for our emergent sector in the quickest time.

I have worked in the CE sector for over four years, both for Australia’s first community-owned cooperative wind farm Hepburn Wind and Embark Australia, a not-for-profit set up to kickstart the community energy sector in Australia. Through that I support other communities to build their own renewable energy projects for the benefit of their communities. I have governance experience, having served on several boards, currently I am a founding director of the Australian Wind Alliance and a founding advisor to the Coalition for Community Energy. I hold a BA in International Studies and a MA in Sustainability and Social Change and have over a decades experience in sustainable development and community enterprises largely through international development work.

I have been a part of the set up of the model and now I am excited to see it put into practice. I look forward to seeing how we can share information and use this model to work together to prevent duplication and hasten the roll out of example projects nationwide.

I have been the representative of the acting steering committee.

Community energy is what I call my niche passion. While I’m constantly being weighed down by the tragedy that is our environmental degradation, I know that community energy is the single most powerful and unifying form of activism. Community energy is the way people can take control of their futures.

I don’t have a lot of experience in this space but I have been a Surf Coast Shire councillor for two years so I have my head around the demands of a role such as this. I’ve also been a journalist for 20 years so have skills and experience that lend themselves to this kind of process.

This is a great way of getting things done effectively. Less talk, more action. It’s so easy to be bogged down in conversation especially with big groups. By having a collaborative approach ideas flow more readily. In order to put this approach into practice people need to what is expected of them and what information the group needs. It’s also important to have people working on things most suited to their skill set.

Sorry this is late so haven’t got a third party statement. I’m nominating because community energy is my passion and I want to be at the coalface of cohesion in this sector, from the beginning.

Extensive experience with community energy sector, renewable energy and energy policy

Craig has been ATA’s community energy lead in recent years

The Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS has a long association with community energy, undertaking strategic research for a range of government and non-government agencies to promote the development of the sector. We believe that community energy is an integral part of the transition to a renewable energy future, in Australia and beyond, as it forms a crucial bridge between traditional progressive clean energy policy and community attitudes to this transition. The past few years have seen substantial progress in the sector, and I want to continue ISF’s close association with this evolution, through collaborative research with other C4CE members. Our role in identifying and delivering targeted, independent research in this area is facilitated by close taking an active role on the C4CE Steering Group.

I have been a sitting member of the Interim Steering Group since its inception and over the past several years I have led or been involved in numerous pieces of research and policy advice to government regarding the creation of a larger, more autonomous community energy sector. I also specialise in the engineering, planning and policy of decentralised energy (energy efficiency, distributed generation and peak load management) and its interface with our electricity grids. Thus I can play a useful role in driving technical C4CE strategic initiatives such as ‘virtual net metering’, as well as contribute to ongoing strategic development of the sector drawing on ISF’s research and funding partnerships. I am also an active member of Pingala community solar group.

I believe that the strength of the C4CE and its collective impact and collaborative governance model will ultimately be underpinned by a breadth of participation and representation. Currently participation is relatively narrow/niche, and focusing on building allies, new members, and ideally steering group representation in the non-traditional supporter base (particularly farming and rural/regional development) is key. The existing charter provides a fantastic foundation for this – now we need to use the networks and contacts of member organisations to broaden its reach and create new strategic initiatives.

The Institute sees enormous value in the local carriage of our renewable energy future, which underpins our interest in research, advocacy and action in the community energy sector. We are pleased to nominate Ed, Research Principal and coordinator of ISF’s Energy and Climate Change Group, as the Institute’s representative for the Steering Group nomination. His collaborative approach, content knowledge and skills will serve this role well. – Professor Stuart White, ISF Director.

Because I want to help scale up community renewable energy (and ultimately speed the path to decentralised energy to the benefit of consumers, communities and the environment) in Australia and I think I have some experience and ideas that would be useful.

I’ve worked in the energy sector for the past ten years in the UK and Australia. I’m currently Market Impact Director at GetUp, having joined the SMT there from renewable energy backed electricity retailer Powershop where I was Head of Partnerships. My role at GetUp is to establish and mobilise a mass consumer movement, building on the Better Power campaign I set up with GetUp whilst at Powershop. I ran a community based aggregator for renewable and energy efficiency products and services before I joined Powershop and in the UK I was the CEO of an environmental NGO that worked with local councils and community groups on issues like fuel poverty, pollution and renewables. I’ve worked on the SMT of a leading outsource services provider to the UK government and energy companies to deliver largecale residential energy efficiency programmes designed to tackle fuel poverty and I ran the UK arm of Australian business Coolnrg where we set up and delivered mass consumer campaigns on energy efficiency and renewables.

In my experience of working with small community renewable energy groups here (LIVE) and in the UK (Brighton Energy Cooperative) I think it’s going to be critical that groups are able to be supported by a solid framework that supports them to get past some of the barriers to progress that are common and often stop potentially viable projects in their tracks. I’d want to maintain a focus on how to best support groups to fast track projects that will enable us to demonstrate to a. other groups how to do it and b. government and other stakeholders that it’s working and has momentum.

GetUp is looking to mobilise a mass consumer movement that will have a positive impact on the energy market. That is likely to include work to support community renewable energy projects and we’d like to be part of C4E so we can share ideas and support your work.

Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and current position as non-executive Director on CSSI.

My interest is especially in the measurement, evaluation and optimisation of collective impact and social innovation programs.

Because CSSI’s objective is to ‘support our communities to benefit environmentally and economically from the generation of clean energy’ – joining C4CE will help to advance this cause.