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Lisa Gooding - Yallourn Transition Leader
18 November 2024
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan this week, climate change leaders, industry and activists from around the world will grapple with the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy sources.
Whilst climate change is a global challenge that deserves the urgent attention of world leaders, as someone who grew up in the Latrobe Valley, I understand that the impacts are experienced at a local level. The challenge of ensuring a just transition for the workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel industries is increasingly critical.
My parents met in the Yallourn Power Station drafting office in the early 70s, got married and raised a family in the Valley. My dad worked in the power industry, as did my uncle. My brother and I have followed in their footsteps.
It’s a familiar story throughout the Latrobe Valley. Generations of families have worked at Yallourn. It’s much more than a place of employment. It’s at the heart of the community.
Understanding Yallourn’s significance to the community has been at the core of EnergyAustralia’s approach to its impending closure in 2028. It’s a lens that I bring to my work leading the Yallourn Transition Program.
A Commitment to Workers and Community
EnergyAustralia’s decision to retire the Yallourn Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley by mid-2028 marks a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and embracing renewable energy. However, what sets this initiative apart is our comprehensive approach to supporting our workforce and the local community through this transition.
It was important to us to give workers and the community seven year’s notice of closure and to help our team prepare for careers post closure so that people can continue to work and live in the Valley.
In November 2022, EnergyAustralia established the $10m Yallourn Transition Program, offering employees the chance to retrain and prepare for new opportunities.
Available to Yallourn workers, the program provides services to help plan, prepare, and upskill for the future, whether they are seeking new employment, considering retirement, or exploring self-employment.
By investing in the future of our employees, EnergyAustralia is empowering workers to build new careers in the evolving energy sector.
The Yallourn Transition Program stands out as an example of how to navigate this complex process with empathy, foresight, and responsibility.
Building a Sustainable Future
In addition to workforce support, EnergyAustralia is committed to ensuring that the transition benefits the broader community. We plan to enable the Yallourn site to transform into a place that locals and tourists can enjoy, new industries emerge and wildlife can make home.
This includes investing in clean energy infrastructure in the region. We are constructing a 350 MW, four-hour utility-scale battery project due to be completed before Yallourn closes. This project will enhance energy storage capacity, supporting the integration of renewable energy into Victoria’s grid and ensuring reliable power supply as the state moves away from coal.
Leading by Example
EnergyAustralia’s approach to the Yallourn transition demonstrates that it is possible to phase out coal-fired power in a manner that prioritises people and the environment. By proactively engaging with workers, investing in their future, and committing to sustainable site redevelopment, we are aiming to set a benchmark for how energy companies can lead the way in the global shift towards cleaner energy.
As we look to the future, we hope that the principles embodied in the Yallourn Transition Program set a benchmark for other energy companies and policymakers. A just transition is not only about reducing emissions but also about ensuring that the journey towards a sustainable future is inclusive, equitable, and supportive of all stakeholders involved.
