The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) has been funded to plan community batteries across the Central Goldfields Shire as part of Victorian Government's Neighbourhood Battery Initiative.
The program, called 'Community Sparks' will assess the feasibility of one community battery site in the Central Goldfields Shire.
The program will also involve the creation of a decision-making tool for regional communities to help them select suitable battery projects.
Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance Executive Officer Rob Law said that with the right model, the batteries have the potential to improve energy and community resilience.
"Our job will be to see what works best for different communities and how we can maximise benefits."
Central Goldfield Shire Flynn Ward Councillor and CVGA board member Liesbeth Long said Council's partnership with CVGA is part of Council's commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.
"We know that community batteries provide opportunities to unlock more solar, ensure households can benefit from renewables and create income to help residents manage their energy bills," she said.
"Last year we launched our first Electric Vehicle Charging Station and most recently our Climate Action Collaboration was launched – we will continue to explore options to show innovation and leadership in reducing carbon emissions as we prepare for a changing climate."
The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance is a network of 13 local governments working together across Central and Northern Victoria. The Alliance involves councils working together to drive action on climate change by developing and implementing innovative regional projects, advocacy, knowledge sharing and the promotion of best practice.
