- Western Australia-first community benefits guideline for clean energy projects released
- Guideline delivers certainty for communities and industry
- Community benefits plans to demonstrate benefit of guidelines to local communities
Regional communities will share in the benefits of Western Australia's energy transition thanks to the State Government's newly released community benefits guideline for clean energy projects.
The guideline for large-scale renewable energy projects was informed by extensive public consultation and direct engagement by PoweringWA with key stakeholders.
It sets clear expectations for developers to deliver meaningful, place-based benefits to communities hosting renewable energy projects and includes a tiered approach to benefits which will balance community and industry interests.
It will also outline how developers should work with local governments, Native Title holders, and other community representatives to develop and deliver benefits through community benefits plans which reflect local priorities.
To support the guideline's implementation, PoweringWA will implement a community benefits plan pilot program in regions with advanced renewable energy projects.
These pilots will help communities to have a say in these plans, so they are fit for purpose.
Lessons from these pilots will inform future guidance, as well as best-practice case studies about effective community benefits arrangements in WA.
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Regional communities are at the heart of our energy transition, and they must be able to benefit from new energy infrastructure in a meaningful and lasting way.
"This guideline ensures that, as WA builds the infrastructure we need to deliver our sustainable energy future, we are also supporting the communities that host new renewable energy projects."
