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Welcome to the YV-CPHub's first e-newsletter!

Welcome to the first newsletter of the Yarra Valley Community Power Hub (YV-CPHub). The Hub is now up and running with our four team members, Jeff, John, Zarina and Amanda. We are all very excited to be working across the Greater Yarra Valley and Ranges area to increase the uptake of renewable energy at a local community level and also to support the six local community energy groups that make up the Hub. 

Walk along the hill ridges of the Yarra Valley and it's hard not to notice the potential - all those vacant rooftops ripe and ready for solar panels to absorb the spring sun-rays. The community renewable energy movement is finally here! We welcome the beginning of a new chapter with the Yarra Valley and Ranges community renewable energy revolution!

As a supporter, whether it be of a local community group, of council renewable energy initiatives or just as a local wanting to be involved, you may by now be aware of the Yarra Valley Community Power Hub’s formation. Hubs like ours are a bold Victorian State Government initiative, bringing together communities to work on renewable energy projects and to become a successful contributor to reducing our collective carbon footprint. 

The Yarra Valley Community Power Hub is one of six other hubs like ours across the state, bringing together communities to work on renewable energy projects. The program of the Community Power Hubs is being delivered by Sustainability Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government - an exciting initiative in community and government collaboration to forge a collective impact across the state.

Establishing the YV-CPHub has been a tremendous effort for all involved, and the staff would like to thank everyone who has contributed their time and effort. With our staff in place, our Steering Group of community energy groups meeting regularly, our admin systems up and running, our website taking shape and our Advisory Group about to be established, our renewable energy projects can now take centre stage. 

We look forward to keeping you up to date with the YV-CPHub's achievements over the coming months.
Watch Our Launch Here!
 

Who makes up our ‘Hub’?

YV-CPHub is a collective of six community groups from across the Greater Yarra Valley and Ranges area covering 5 local government areas (LGA’s):

  • Clean Energy Nillumbik in the Nillumbik Shire Council LGA to the north,
    Yarra Glenergy, Healesville CoRE and the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association in the Yarra Ranges Council LGA to the east,
  • Bunyip Renewables Action Group in the Cardinia Shire Council LGA to the south and
  • Eastern Climate Action Melbourne in the Maroondah and Whitehorse City Council LGA’s in the east.

So, these are our six champions, the change makers and the backbone of YV-CPHub. Get in touch to find out how to support your local community group.

All are committed to lowering Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions through engaging their local communities with renewable energy projects, and in doing so, also building community connections, community engagement and community resilience. 

Healesville CoRE
Click here to find out more

Yarra Glenergy
Click here to find out more

Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association

Click here to find out more

Clean Energy Nillumbik          
Click here to find out more

Bunyip Renewable Actions Group
Click here to find out more

Eastern Climate Action Melbourne
Click here to find out more
 
Industry Insights 

We believe we will benefit greatly from collaborating with industry and commercial partners to ensure maximum outcomes from the Victorian Government's funding. The YV-CPHub has partnered with Komo Energy, to gain critical support on projects for which the local community energy groups do not have the professional or technical expertise. We are delighted to be working with Gerald Arends and Jonathan Prendergast, the two directors of Komo Energy, leading voices in the renewable energy sector. Their support has already proved invaluable in areas of strategy, funding and procurement. 

To find out more about their work and successful projects, visit the Komo Energy website for details. 
Click Here To Learn More About
Komo Energy 
 
Project Corner

So far, we have 32 renewable energy projects on the table, with the most viable projects currently under assessment, being workshopped. We are required by Sustainability Victoria to deliver at least two projects to completion by 30 June 2022 and the two we look like working on are: 

1. A Bulk Buy with a focus on heat pumps for our first offer, probably to be followed with community offers of solar panels, batteries, reverse cycle heating and cooling and other products.


There are so many possible ways forward! And past experience of our member groups has shown that Bulk Buy programs make it easier for households to become more energy-efficient, reduce emissions and save on their energy bills. We are in the process of testing what will be most helpful to community members, what will be most price-competitive, what will ensure quality and what will most help to reduce greenhouse emissions. 

Watch our website for announcements during October and November!

2. A training program for volunteer home energy efficiency advisors to be run through the Box Hill College Lilydale Campus.

There is a growing trend and enthusiasm about renewable energy and sustainability across the nation and we all need to start with creating more energy efficient homes. But often it is hard to know where to start, what will be most effective, affordable and efficient. Volunteer home energy efficiency advisors are members of their local community energy group and they volunteer to provide advice. They come to the homes of local households who seek their support and they provide information and advice on how to create a more sustainable and energy efficient home. 

Again, watch our website for announcements in the coming months!
 
Meet the Hub Team
Executive Officer 
Jeff Barlow 

Jeff Barlow is Executive Officer of the YV-CPHub and is very excited to be leading the project. He initiated the grant application with Sustainability Victoria, involving Komo Energy, as the Hub's industry partner. Jeff is convinced that it is really imperative for community energy groups to work together with industry partners to enable greater take up of renewable energy projects, in particular mid sized projects for which community energy groups usually lack both funds and expertise. Jeff is also the founder and president of Healesville Community Renewable Energy Inc (Healesville CoRE), a voluntary group aimed at engaging the Healesville community in a transition to net zero carbon emissions from electricity consumption by 2027.

Jeff's professional career has been in education (secondary, adult and TAFE) in Australia, Germany and the UK. Jeff retrained as a psychotherapist in the UK and on his return to Australia in the early 1980's, established and ran his own training college in psychotherapy for over 30 years.

Jeff wants his grandchildren and great grandchildren to inherit a planet that is habitable by human beings and he feels a deep need to be engaged personally in the process of communities transitioning rapidly to sustainable living.
Administration Officer
Amanda Geshev 

Amanda Geshev is the Administration Officer for the Yarra Valley Community Hub.

Professionally, she has extensive Administration experience, and in leading teams holds a Bachelor of Business Marketing Degree, Certificate IV's in Frontline Management and Business Administration and thrives on a challenge. Outside of work, you'll find Amanda out in the sunshine, in the garden, working on a cars, or lost in the world of Adult Colouring and other crafting activities that allow to creativity.

When the opportunity arose to become part of the Yarra Valley Community Hub Amanda couldn't wait to come on board. Such an exciting journey ahead where she feels can make a positive difference to support the community to create positive renewable energy outcomes.
Secretariat Officer
John Brenan

John is our Secretariat Officer, working one day a week for the Hub. His professional background is in education, starting as a secondary teacher of the humanities with some sessional university lecturing, and eventually becoming Principal of large K - 12 schools. This led to work as a consultant Project Director for education departments in three States, and for two regional governments in China.

John and his wife Sarah live on 8 hectares near St Andrews. The property was burnt out in 2009 and so they have the benefit of a home with many sustainable features. Founding Chair of Clean Energy Nillumbik, John relinquished that role a couple of years ago although he still serves on Nillumbik Shire Council's advisory committee for environment and sustainability. YV-CPHub is, for John, a great opportunity to contribute to local sustainability initiatives and the support they receive from our State government, absent any effective federal policy or program.
Communications & Marketing
Zarina Borland 

Zarina Borland has joined the YV-CPHub as Communications and Marketing Officer. Having recently graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Communications at RMIT University and with extensive experience working for small businesses, in customer engagement and social media management, saw this role as an opportunity to serve the community and the environment in a positive way.

Zarina and her partner Jayden have recently purchased a mudbrick house in Christmas Hills to further explore sustainable living. They are at a pivotal moment with renovations, learning how to incorporate renewable energy in the home. This has given way to the unique opportunity of seeing the current renewable energy market through the lenses of a consumer and hopes to use these insights for the betterment of the community and the uptake of renewables.
 
Have your say!

If you have an idea about a renewable energy project we want to hear from you!

What’s coming up?

For information on upcoming renewable energy workshops, webinars and other community events that Yarra Valley Community Power Hub will be announcing.

Go to our website: www.yvcommunitypowerhub.org.au for further information. 

For more information about local projects being delivered across the state, visit Community Power Hubs. 

www.communitypowerhub.net.au
 

Yarra Valley Community Power Hub
hosted by Healesville CoRE
Incorporation No A0101166X
ABN 98 988 563 885

PO Box 146 Healesville VIC 3777
contact@yvcommunitypowerhub.org.au

This project is delivered by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government

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