Have a say on proposed renewables rollout guidelines

PUBLIC consultation has opened on VicGrid’s proposed Victorian Access Regime, which will make community engagement a condition of winning grid access for renewable energy projects.

The regime will also set out bare minimums for consultation, in draft rules that were made public last week.

It will basically increase transparency about what projects must do to gain grid access, including expectations to engage with and deliver benefits to landholders, communities and Traditional Owners.

VicGrid, the State Government body coordinating the planning and development of Victoria’s Renewable Energy Zones and transmission infrastructure to support the transition to renewable energy, has invited submissions on three key documents that make up the regime.

They are an Access and Connections Consultation Paper, Draft Grid Impact Assessment Guidelines, and Draft Community Engagement and Social Value Guidelines.

People can view the regime documents and lodge a submission by visiting engage.vic.gov.au/victorian-access-regime.

When VicGrid announced plans to introduce new standards late last month, CEO Alistair Parker said developers behaving poorly and not meeting expectations would not have their projects approved.

Mr Parker said VicGrid was responding to grave concerns in communities about the behaviour of renewables developers.

For its part, the Moorabool Shire Council is encouraging residents and ratepayers to take advantage of the opportunity to comment on the plan.

“Renewable energy and transmission projects are having a big impact on our region and community,” mayor Cr Paul Tatchell said.

“Council encourages people to make a submission and have their say.”

The consultation period ends on 5 November, with the regime expected to come into effect in mid-March next year.

After that, all new generation and storage projects connecting to Victoria’s transmission network will need an access authority – a licence – before they can receive an offer to connect to the network.

The Shire and its residents have been at the forefront of debate over renewable energy project rollouts, specifically the proposed Western Renewables Link (WRL).

Energy delivery services business AusNet wants to build the 190-kilometre overhead high-voltage electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west.

But the proposal, for which an Environment Effects Statement panel hearing begins late this month, has attracted fierce opposition from both landowners and the Shire.

Farmers primarily do not want transmission towers on their land, while the Shire argues the project could be built underground. It also generally supports its ratepayers in their opposition to the link.