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OpEd in Newcastle Morning Herald. Published 5/03/2025
Hunter households, like many throughout Australia, are facing many challenges. Key among them are burgeoning energy costs because so much of our housing is not fit for our variable climate and uncertainty regarding the ongoing transition to a renewably powered future.
Right from its inception the issues of climate change and the clean energy transition has been front and centre for the Hunter Community Alliance (HCA). The HCA is a non-partisan, community-based civil society organisation made up of 30+ faith groups, Unions and community organisations, including CLEANaS, working together for the common good. Consensus from the HCA member organisations from across the Hunter agreed to support the Renew Australia for All campaign which aligns with HCA’s principles and objectives.
A key pillar of this campaign is to seek a government commitment to a $5bn Energy Bill Savings Plan to deliver immediate subsidies and finance to reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of home energy upgrades targeting those in low-income homes, private renters, tenants in public and social housing, as well as First Nations, multicultural and regional/remote communities.
In late 2024 HCA conducted listening events across the lower Hunter where common themes from residents included uncomfortable living conditions in homes with little or no insulation, increasing energy costs compounding the current cost of living crisis, and an inability to upgrade their homes energy efficiency to address these problems through insulation, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, induction cooking, heat pump hot water, rooftop solar and batteries.
By providing this targeted support the government can assist to lower energy bills, build healthier, safer homes, create new high-quality safe jobs and secure careers in household energy efficiency. All with the added benefit of reducing climate and air pollution.
The HCA listening events also found residents confused about the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency for their households and businesses and about the future of the Hunter. This points to a lack of quality independent information and advice. The HCA believes that Local Energy Hubs would be the best way to support the community. These community hubs would work as outreach centres staffed by respected local experts, independent from the industry. They would assist individuals and communities in discovering how they could benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy and to navigate their way through the energy transition.
In 2024, Chris Bowen, the Federal Minister for Climate and Energy, heard stories and expert opinion from across the Hunter at the HCA Founding Assembly and then acted on them including establishing the TAFE NSW Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Tighes Hill campus. On 6 March, at the HCA Assembly, the HCA will seek commitment from Minister Bowen to the $5bn Energy Bill Savings Plan, ensuring that the Hunter receives its fair share of the expenditure and to fund 1-2 Local Energy Hubs in the Hunter region, to ensure all in the Hunter region can benefit from renewable energy and the transition to a clean energy economy.
CLEANaS is the Clean Energy Association of Newcastle and Surrounds, a not-for-profit association formed in 2012 by a group of locals passionate about clean energy. CLEANaS is dedicated to driving the uptake of clean energy so that our region can transition from our current dependency on fossil fuels to a more competitive and sustainable local economy. CLEANaS is a dedicated member of the HCA and will join hundreds of Hunter residents at the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall for the HCA Assembly. CLEANaS encourages community minded organisations and individuals to be part of grassroots democracy in action and join us to witness the power of civil society and to take action on housing, energy and climate ahead of the Federal election.
Alec Roberts
Chair of CLEANaS
Hunter households, like many throughout Australia, are facing many challenges. Key among them are burgeoning energy costs because so much of our housing is not fit for our variable climate and uncertainty regarding the ongoing transition to a renewably powered future.
Right from its inception the issues of climate change and the clean energy transition has been front and centre for the Hunter Community Alliance (HCA). The HCA is a non-partisan, community-based civil society organisation made up of 30+ faith groups, Unions and community organisations, including CLEANaS, working together for the common good. Consensus from the HCA member organisations from across the Hunter agreed to support the Renew Australia for All campaign which aligns with HCA’s principles and objectives.
A key pillar of this campaign is to seek a government commitment to a $5bn Energy Bill Savings Plan to deliver immediate subsidies and finance to reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of home energy upgrades targeting those in low-income homes, private renters, tenants in public and social housing, as well as First Nations, multicultural and regional/remote communities.
In late 2024 HCA conducted listening events across the lower Hunter where common themes from residents included uncomfortable living conditions in homes with little or no insulation, increasing energy costs compounding the current cost of living crisis, and an inability to upgrade their homes energy efficiency to address these problems through insulation, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, induction cooking, heat pump hot water, rooftop solar and batteries.
By providing this targeted support the government can assist to lower energy bills, build healthier, safer homes, create new high-quality safe jobs and secure careers in household energy efficiency. All with the added benefit of reducing climate and air pollution.
The HCA listening events also found residents confused about the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency for their households and businesses and about the future of the Hunter. This points to a lack of quality independent information and advice. The HCA believes that Local Energy Hubs would be the best way to support the community. These community hubs would work as outreach centres staffed by respected local experts, independent from the industry. They would assist individuals and communities in discovering how they could benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy and to navigate their way through the energy transition.
In 2024, Chris Bowen, the Federal Minister for Climate and Energy, heard stories and expert opinion from across the Hunter at the HCA Founding Assembly and then acted on them including establishing the TAFE NSW Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Tighes Hill campus. On 6 March, at the HCA Assembly, the HCA will seek commitment from Minister Bowen to the $5bn Energy Bill Savings Plan, ensuring that the Hunter receives its fair share of the expenditure and to fund 1-2 Local Energy Hubs in the Hunter region, to ensure all in the Hunter region can benefit from renewable energy and the transition to a clean energy economy.
CLEANaS is the Clean Energy Association of Newcastle and Surrounds, a not-for-profit association formed in 2012 by a group of locals passionate about clean energy. CLEANaS is dedicated to driving the uptake of clean energy so that our region can transition from our current dependency on fossil fuels to a more competitive and sustainable local economy. CLEANaS is a dedicated member of the HCA and will join hundreds of Hunter residents at the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall for the HCA Assembly. CLEANaS encourages community minded organisations and individuals to be part of grassroots democracy in action and join us to witness the power of civil society and to take action on housing, energy and climate ahead of the Federal election.
Alec Roberts
Chair of CLEANaS
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