Community Energy – what is happening?

Community Energy – what is happening?

This is the topic for discussion at the next Sustainability Info Night, hosted by Renew Sydney Central Branch with a panel of great speakers.

Thursday 24th October, 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill.
You can attend this free event in person or online. Doors open at 5:45pm, webinar goes live at 6:30pm.

We hear much talk about Community Energy and how critical it will be in the energy transformation - but what is really happening in this space? Come along to hear a panel of experts in the area who will discuss ...

• what is currently happening around the Sydney area?
• how can people get involved?
• what other opportunities are there?
• what needs to change to make them happen?

Speakers:

James Balzar, Senior Project Officer Energy Division, NSW Dept Energy Climate Change & Sustainability.

Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens, an independent, community-based organisation that protects and grows renewable energy and clean transport in Australia. Heidi has more than twenty years of experience working in the intersection between politics, narrative, and social change. Living in one of the most diverse areas of Sydney, Heidi is constantly reminded of the challenges and opportunities of finding common ground to build bridges and create a better tomorrow. She is deeply values aligned with Solar Citizens focus on helping to fix climate issues by unifying the community to embrace and demand the cost of living benefits that clean energy can provide. Heidi is also a local government councillor for Bayside (NSW), and is an internationally award-winning film and television director.

Emma Dortins from Pingala. Pingala is a social enterprise working to make affordable, clean, renewable energy accessible to everyone. We fund, support and oversee the construction of community owned and operated renewable energy projects. In 2016 we financed a community-owned renewables system at Young Henry’s, a brewery in Newtown, and we’ve gone on to help non-profits, healthcare services and small businesses fund transformative renewable energy projects. We believe that energy production should be decentralised, decarbonised and democratised – and we’re willing to roll up our sleeves and put in the work to make it a reality. Emma has been volunteering with Pingala since 2018, and has pitched in on the 4 Pines Brewery project, Haystacks Community Garden, and keeping Pingala up and running. She's passionate about helping to find new ways to organise, fund and manage renewable energy so that it can be accessible to us all regardless of income or where you live. Emma trained as a historian, and now works in NSW government as a policy officer. She lives in Marrickville with her partner and son.

Jem Cox from Electrify Bouddi, a not-for-profit community association for Bouddi residents and local businesses who want to reduce their climate impact, build climate resilience and save money on energy.  Jem Cox, PSM is a former NSW and Commonwealth Government Senior Executive now working with research institutes, and private and public sectors on energy efficiency to support our joint efforts to decarbonise our economy, with a focus on social, environmental and community engagement. 

Venue: Inner West Sustainability Hub, 7 Prospect Rd Summer Hill or join us online.

This is a free event supported by Inner West Council. To attend, either in person or online, please book your tickets on this page.

The closest railway station is Summer Hill on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line (10 minutes' walking distance).

The nearest bus routes are on Liverpool Road (480, 483), on Victoria Street (406) and on Holden Street (418). Limited parking is available on site.

The Green Living Centre Education Space is located at the top of the site on the left, at the end of the blue pedestrian path.

For more information, email Renew's Sydney Central Branch or see our website.

Renew is a member-based non-profit organisation that publishes Sanctuary and Renew magazine and has been supporting people to live and build sustainably since 1980. You can join as a member or subscribe to one or both magazines here.