Australia's energy transition is a social and economic opportunity. It is also the defining moment of our nation - one we need to ensure does not come at a cost to our regional communities.
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Unless we act now, we risk leaving regional Australians on the sidelines of the very revolution they are powering.
In the next five years, large-scale wind and solar projects will pour more than $25 billion into the economyand create upwards of 19,000 jobs.
That scale of investment is unprecedented, but investment alone won't build thriving, resilient communities. If this transition is to leave a genuine legacy, regional people must be at the heart of it.
That's why it's time for a new approach - a once-in-a-generation framework that ensures the clean energy boom translates into lasting prosperity. It's time for a REAL Deal.
The Regional Energy and Legacy Deal (REAL Deal) will unite governments, industry and communities to deliver outcomes that are meaningful, local and enduring. Its purpose is simple: to ensure that the people living in the regions hosting this transformation are not just passive hosts, but active decision-makers shaping the outcomes for their communities.
Regional Australians are already powering this shift. In the first quarter of 2025, renewables generated a record 43 per cent of Australia's electricity.
From solar arrays to wind farms to the transmission lines that connect them, regional communities are building the foundations for this transition.
But we know concrete, roads and turbines aren't enough. Strong regions are built on planning, leadership and opportunity that only happens when communities themselves set the priorities.
Our latest report, Towards Net Zero: Building a Legacy, shows how a co-ordinated funding model - aligning industry investment with federal and state government contributions and regional decision-making - can create real, place-based solutions.
This is the radical new approach Australia needs: one that empowers communities to decide what investments matter most, from housing to skills training to infrastructure upgrades.
We've already seen what's possible. In NSW's Hay shire, the council has worked hand-in-hand with the community, setting principles to guarantee that renewable projects deliver benefits beyond the construction site. This has led to to strong agreements with energy businesses and increased community support.
In Western Downs, Queensland, the council has established the Communities Partnering Framework which sets clear expectations for developments to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.
In regional Victoria, Wimmera Southern Development has facilitated a formal collaboration between energy businesses to achieve better outcomes for local communities. This pioneering project has led to the development of the Regional Energy Collaboration Framework by The Energy Charter for national application.
These regions aren't waiting to be told what to do. They are leading with vision, pragmatism and determination. The REAL Deal is about scaling that leadership nationally, giving every community, no matter its size or resources, the power to shape its own future.
The clean energy transition is happening. The question is: will it simply pass through our regions, or will it transform them for the better?
Regional Australians deserve a legacy that lasts. They deserve a REAL Deal.
- Liz Ritchie is the chief executive officer of the Regional Australia Institute.
