Why totally renewable?

A totally renewable future seems certain but the details are not. Setting a totally renewable goal gives your community an opportunity to understand what the renewable energy future looks like and to participate in shaping a plan to achieve this future.

These are some other energy and carbon related goals that communities sometimes plan for:

• Net Zero Energy

• Net Zero Emissions

• Resilience

• Economic Development and community wealth building. This does’t always include strong climate and energy goals but it should!

Why is planning helpful?

A plan provides a strategic framework for achieving your goals and measuring your progress, and maps a path to get there. These are some of the steps:

• Engage with your community. This will determine what goals to aim for, and how you can get there.

• Work out your current electricity use, and how much you are already generating from renewable energy.

• Work out the potential to reduce that electricity use with energy efficiency.

• Work out the options for additional renewable resources.

• Set your goals and your timeframe.

• Work out the steps you need to reach your goals. These will include community engagement, setting organisational structures and governance, technology choices, finance and fundraising.

Planning can involve your core team, your full membership or your whole community. Often these processes reach beyond your community group and involve local government and link to their strategies for community action.

If your goals are for the whole community, it often makes sense for the planning process to be led by someone who represents the whole community, like your local council. Waiting for government shouldn't stop community groups though. Announcing the goal and showing people the plan can be a good way to get people on board and supporting your work.

A plan often answers the following questions:

• What are we trying to achieve? why and by when?

• How much money, time and skills are we likely to need? where will we find these resources?

• Who needs to be involved? Who is responsible for making sure we get stuff done?

• How will we keep track of progress?

• How are we going to keep everyone motivated and doing their part?

• How are we going to tell our story and keep engaging a wider part of our community?

Project Examples

Totally Renewable Yackandandah - A community group with goal of powering a small Victorian town with 100% renewable energy.