The RAPAD Power Grid project is a collaboration between the seven Central Western Queensland Regional Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) councils and CopperString’s founders, Queensland company VisIR, to work with landholders and communities to establish an estimated 930-kilometre clean energy corridor to secure jobs and growth for western Queensland.
Ahead of the RAPAD Board meeting in Barcaldine this week (27 and 28 February), interested landholders are encouraged to submit their expressions of interest to start the conversation with the RAPAD Power Grid project team and stay up to date with project developments.
The RAPAD Power Grid is proposed to connect with the Queensland Government committed CopperString transmission project at Hughenden in north-west Queensland and through a clean energy corridor to Barcaldine and connect to the existing electricity network at Biloela.
RAPAD Board Chair and Longreach Regional Council Mayor Tony Rayner said the release of the landholder EOI was an important milestone for the community-led project as it seeks to work together with the local community on this transformational project.
“As we’ve seen recently in other regions, the social licence for renewable energy projects has been a massive challenge, but it can be a valuable opportunity if done well” Mayor Rayner said.
“We’re in a unique position with the RAPAD Power Grid project that is driven locally and focussed on working together to unlock the region’s renewable energy potential to deliver strong economic, social and environmental benefits to the central west, and all of Queensland.”
“If Queensland is to achieve its renewable energy and emission reduction targets, and a develop major green industry, then western Queensland will need to play its part. That’s what the RAPAD Power Grid aims to do.”
Mayor Rayner said the EOI process aims to ensure a coordinated and efficient approach to new investment in the region and does not create any obligation with the landholder.
“This is a first step to start the conversation with the project team and to be a part of discussions into the future. The project team are ready to talk with any landholders or members of the community that want more information or want to get involved in the renewable opportunities.
Project representatives will meet in Barcaldine next week to discuss project plans, the landholder EOI and arrangements for an upcoming mission to visit projects in Queensland and the United States.
RAPAD Acting CEO Morgan Gronold said RAPAD Power Grid was hitting some significant milestones early in the year marking its first formal meeting in Barcaldine, opening the landholder EOI and undertaking a mission to learn from similar projects.
“We’re still in the planning stage of the mission, with visits to geographically similar areas and communities highlighted including local projects in Hughenden and those in Texas and Nevada in the US.
“These investigations together with our landholder EOI will provide valuable insights and networks for the RAPAD Power Grid and other regional renewable energy projects into the future.
VisIR CEO Joseph O’Brien said, “By working shoulder to shoulder with RAPAD on this project and embracing innovative community-driven initiatives such as the renewable energy EOI process, we can create enormous economic and social benefits for western Queensland and all of Australia.”
Landholders are encouraged to refer to the Queensland Renewable Energy Landholder Toolkit developed by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
Visit www.rapadpowergrid.com.au/eoi, call +61 7 3911 1181 or email rapadpowergrid@visir.com.au for more information.