renewable energy

Review YMAC’s Renewable Energy Guide

Posted: June 21st, 2024

Filed under: renewable energy, Renewable Energy Guide, YMAC

With Western Australia’s renewable energy industry growing at a rapid pace, the YMAC Renewable Energy Guide aims to promote the highest engagement standards and provide a practical tool to guide renewable energy project negotiations between developers and First Nations peoples. 

The guide draws on the expertise of YMAC’s experienced lawyers who have been supporting renewable energy project negotiations across our representative areas, other team members from a range of disciplines, as well as external experts. 

YMAC has long been an advocate for economic participation models such as equity ownership. It is our goal to ensure First Nations peoples’ involvement in this Greenfields industry can result in long-term generation of capital – a key to self-determination – as well as close involvement in decision-making about activity impacting their unique cultural heritage and Country. 

Consisting of a set of eight ‘standards’ to guide renewable energy developers in how best to engage with Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and Aboriginal Corporations and achieve free, prior and informed consent, as well as a project timeline that discusses key requirements for each stage of a project’s development. 

View the guide here. 

Our digital YMAC Renewable Energy Guide is now live!

Posted: June 4th, 2024

Filed under: renewable energy, Renewable Energy Guide

Our digital YMAC Renewable Energy Guide is now live!

With Western Australia’s renewable energy industry growing at a rapid pace, the YMAC Renewable Energy Guide aims to promote the highest engagement standards and provide a practical tool to guide renewable energy project negotiations between developers and First Nations peoples.

“Renewable Energy presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish, from a project’s onset, the highest standards for First Nations peoples’ engagement, alongside sharing in the economic rewards that may arise from projects on Country.  We want to get this right from the start,” said YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins.

The guide draws on the expertise of YMAC’s experienced lawyers who have been supporting renewable energy project negotiations across our representative areas, other team members from a range of disciplines, as well as external experts.

YMAC has long been an advocate for economic participation models such as equity ownership. It is our goal to ensure First Nations peoples’ involvement in this Greenfields industry can result in long-term generation of capital – a key to self-determination – as well as close involvement in decision-making about activity impacting their unique cultural heritage and Country.

The Guide consists of a set of eight ‘standards’ to guide renewable energy developers in how best to engage with Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and Aboriginal Corporations and achieve free, prior and informed consent, as well as a project timeline that discusses key requirements for each stage of a project’s development.

AEMO estimates flawed as solar costs decline

Posted: July 18th, 2018

Filed under: aboriginal, Pilbara, renewable energy, solar, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

MEDIA STATEMENT: Wednesday, 18 July 2018 

Pilbara Solar, a 25 per cent Aboriginal owned renewable energy company, has questioned a national report on Australia’s energy future after it failed to recognise WA’s solar rich regions.

Yesterday’s report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the nation’s independent energy market operator, to COAG, stated that ageing coal-fired power plants would still deliver the cheapest electricity for the next 20 years.

Pilbara Solar Director, and renewable energy developer, Richard Finlay-Jones, said the report did not recognise regions like the Pilbara which had one of the greatest solar resources in the world, and was one of the most energy intensive locations in the country.

“WA is the most solar rich state in the nation, and, with the right support from all levels of government, the Pilbara has the potential to become a 100 per cent renewable Zero Emissions Zone within a decade,” Dr Finlay-Jones said.

Dr Finlay-Jones said current investment in renewable energy had never been stronger in Australia, and the power source never cheaper, with states with the largest targets demonstrating the greatest investment benefits, and the cheapest power.

“Renewable energy deployment had been driving down the wholesale price of power, and wind and solar energy is now cheaper than coal and diesel,” Dr Finlay-Jones said.

“The AEMO report to COAG actually states that Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates about 90 per cent of the $88bn forecast spent on adding power capacity in Australia will be outlaid on clean energy.

“It is imperative that regions like the Pilbara are recognised among the greatest solar resources in the world.”

Pilbara Solar is 25 per cent owned by the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), which YMAC Chief Executive, Simon Hawkins, said represented Traditional Owners whose lands covered one million square kilometres in WA with some of the best solar resources in the world.

Read the media statement here: AEMO estimates flawed