RAPAD Power Grid

RAPAD POWER GRID PROJECT NEWS Over the past few months RAPAD - Remote Area Planning and Development Board and project partners VisIR Pty Ltd have marked some great milestones in the development of the RAPAD Power Grid project. COMMUNITY BENEFIT ROYALTY AGREEMENT RELEASED: The seven councils of Central Western Queensland have released an Australian-first benefits agreement; creating a unique framework for how their local communities will benefit from the proposed RAPAD Power Grid and other energy developments. Find out more about RAPAD Power Grid Community Benefit Royalty Agreement at: https://lnkd.in/g2e8B4rF CWQ ENERGY & ECONOMIC FUTURES FORUM & TEXAN DELEGATION: With a capacity 126 attendees and a balance of representation across community, industry and landholders we kicked off some valuable conversations and connections at the Forum and look forward to continuing these discussions into the future. A big thank you to our Texan guests and everyone involved in making the forum a success including our local Texan delegation itinerary hosts Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Dennis and Karen Donohoe, and Gerard and Linda Penna. More information on the RAPAD Power Grid project and CWQ Energy and Economic Futures Forum, including the slide deck from key presentations, is published on the RAPAD Power Grid project website. Stay up to date on this project by adding your email to the news list form on the website. www.rapadpowergrid.com.au

"If you build it, they will come": that's the key renewable energy lesson Queensland can learn from Texas according to Joshua Rhodes, PhD - and it has nothing to do with cornfields and baseball. Take a look at RAPAD's impromptu interview with Josh, courtesy of our Deputy CEO Morgan Gronold, while our US delegation was in Texas in May this year. Josh briefly covers some background on what has driven the Lone Star State to become the leader in renewable energy in the US. Back in Australia, locals in the RAPAD region will also get the chance to hear for themselves and have a real conversation with Josh at our Energy and Economic Futures Forum in Barcaldine on 27 September. As the author of "Economic Impact of Renewable Energy and Energy Storage in Rural Texas" report, Josh has more relevant insights to offer attendees from our region as well as those attending from across the Sunshine State. Our US delegation took part in an Energy Technology and Policy course at the University of Texas at Austin, learning from leaders in this space including Professor Michael E. Webber, Josh and his colleagues at the Webber Energy Group through Texas Engineering Executive Education. We're pleased to be bringing this high calibre forum to Barcaldine for the benefit of our region as well as Queensland, with our visiting delegation also taking part in meetings and networking opportunities in Brisbane ahead of the forum. Find out more about the forum: https://lnkd.in/egV23ZrP The forum is proudly presented by RAPAD with support form Queensland Department of Energy and Climate.

We’re set for real energy and economic futures conversations in Barcaldine, Central West Queensland – 27 September 2024 RAPAD took a big step in undertaking its US Mission in May this year, gaining a firsthand understanding of how we can make our RAPAD Power Grid a reality and the potential impact and economic benefits a diversified economy and transition to net zero could bring to our region. After 9 major stops, 23 meetings and site visits, and around 40,000km travelled, we definitely learnt a lot - particularly from similar regions, communities and organisations to ours in Texas. We're pleased to bring those conversations back to Central West Queensland for our Energy and Economic Futures Forum. The forum brings together a great line up of speakers with local representatives from community, government and industry joined by guests from the US who will share their experiences in rural Texas with a focus on economic and community impact and landholder rights. We’re looking forward to hosting real conversations and providing connections to key networks and opportunities - putting locals front and centre for developments that are shaped by our region, to deliver for our region. This forum is proudly presented by RAPAD with support form the Queensland Department of Energy and Climate. Find out more about the forum: https://lnkd.in/egV23ZrP Find out more about our 'Lessons from Texas': https://lnkd.in/gZpFqJYx -- Morgan Gronold | Tony Rayner | Paul Martyn | Robert Chandler | Joshua Rhodes, PhD | Texas Engineering Executive Education | Webber Energy Group | Miesha Hand Adames | Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development MDD | Samuel Davis | Conservative Texans For Energy Innovation | Texas Land & Liberty Coalition | Jo Sheppard | Queensland Farmers' Federation | Katie-Anne Mulder | Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) | Warwick Squire | Coexistence Queensland | Ashurst | Dan Brown

RAPAD CWQ ENERGY & ECONOMIC FUTURES FORUM | BARCALDINE 2024 As Central West Queensland looks to take the next steps in its energy and economic diversification journey, RAPAD is bringing together an expert and broader stakeholder forum to start conversations, connect with industry and professional networks and keep our community informed. Hosted in Barcaldine on Friday 27 September, the energy forum is about: - Having real conversations with local representatives, departments, industry, community, business and landholders. - Creating space to provide clarity on the RAPAD Power Grid infrastructure project. - Sharing lessons from the RAPAD US mission, with a focus on rural Texas community impact and landholder rights. - Platforming the latest on projects from across the state - from government and community perspectives. Register to attend at: https://lnkd.in/egV23ZrP -- Morgan Gronold David Arnold Tony Rayner Rick Britton Francis Murray Barcaldine Regional Council Barcoo Shire Council BOULIA SHIRE COUNCIL Diamantina Shire Council Longreach Regional Council Winton Shire Council

RAPAD CWQ ENERGY & ECONOMIC FUTURES FORUM | BARCALDINE 2024 As Central West Queensland looks to take the next steps in its energy and economic diversification journey, RAPAD is bringing together an expert and broader stakeholder forum to start conversations, connect with industry and professional networks and keep our community informed. Hosted in Barcaldine on Friday 27 September, the energy forum is about: - Having real conversations with local representatives, departments, industry, community, business and landholders. - Creating space to provide clarity on the RAPAD Power Grid infrastructure project. - Sharing lessons from the RAPAD US mission, with a focus on rural Texas community impact and landholder rights. - Platforming the latest on projects from across the state - from government and community perspectives. Register to attend at: https://lnkd.in/egV23ZrP -- Morgan Gronold David Arnold Tony Rayner Rick Britton Francis Murray Barcaldine Regional Council Barcoo Shire Council BOULIA SHIRE COUNCIL Diamantina Shire Council Longreach Regional Council Winton Shire Council

Have you registered for the next Connecting Industry Luncheon with RAPAD - Remote Area Planning and Development Board and VisIR who are developing the RAPAD Power Grid? The RAPAD Power Grid project is an energy infrastructure development project spanning almost 25% of Queensland comprising HVDC transmission networks (5.2 GW capacity) with the potential for solar generation (4.2 GW), wind generation (estimated at 2.5 GW,) and common user battery storage. The RAPAD Power Grid project is strategically located between Gladstone, Townsville and the North West Minerals Province (NWMP) and utilises this strategic arc from Hughenden to Barcaldine. To find out more and to register, connect here: https://lnkd.in/gB53VH7b VisIR was the owner of the $5 billion CopperString transmission network project until March 2023 when the Queensland Government committed to construct the transmission network and VisIR transferred the project to State ownership. The team of technical, regulatory and financial professionals is led by founders, John and Joseph W. O'Brien (GAICD), prominent energy industry experts who have been contributing to the Queensland and national energy industry for over 40 years. To learn more about the project, connect here: https://lnkd.in/gw-SmWM9 Connecting Industry Luncheons are designed to assist your business develop strategic relationships in every facet of your personal and professional success. Our events are attended by CEO’s, managing directors, and business executives from across Queensland and Australia and gives your business the opportunity to connect, engage, and network with all presenting company speakers, industry, attending delegates, and the local supply chain. For a sponsorship prospectus, connect here: https://lnkd.in/g3E6f8AN

Reaching another significant milestone for RAPAD and Central West Queensland as we get set for our first international delegation to the United States from 4 to 21 May as part of our CWQ Strategy to Adapt to a Diversified Economy. The mission investigations will provide valuable insights and networks for the RAPAD Power Grid and other regional renewable energy projects into the future - arguably we’ll have some of the best knowledge in the nation of energy transition for rural and remote economies right here in the central west. Read the full news story below. -- Morgan Gronold | David Arnold | Tony Rayner | Joseph W. O'Brien (GAICD) | Paul Martyn | David Lukas | Department of Energy and Climate | Western Queensland Alliance of Councils | Local Government Association of Queensland

The RAPAD Power Grid project proposes to build a “non-regulated” transmission line linking the Townsville to Mount Isa CopperString corridor at Hughenden through the central west and into Biloela, near Gladstone. .................................. Landholders across Central Western Queensland are being invited to register their interest in hosting renewable energy projects as part of a major new “clean energy corridor” being developed in the state’s north along the path of a 930km high voltage transmission line proposed to link Hughenden to Biloela, via Barcaldine. Seven regional Queensland councils joined forces late last year with the founders of the CopperString transmission project in a collaboration called the RAPAD Power Grid project. The line would be supported by commercial contracts with major network users, the proposal has said, and would have the potential to host 5.2GW of third party renewable energy projects, while “common-user battery storage” would also be integrated with the network. To this end, the Central Western Queensland Regional Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) councils and CopperString’s founders, Queensland company VisIR, have this week put out the call to landholders and communities to submit expressions of interest to become involved with the project. Connect for full story.

RAPAD POWERING AHEAD IN 2024 - The first face to face RAPAD Board meeting of 2024 is underway in Barcaldine this week with the agenda kicking off yesterday afternoon and continuing today. First up on the agenda was an update on the RAPAD Power Grid project following the release of the Landholder EOI earlier this week. Joining us in Barcy to deliver the update and answer questions were VisIR's Joseph W. O'Brien (GAICD) and John O'Brien - pictured with our Board and A/CEO Morgan Gronold below. Find out more about the RAPAD Power Grid Landholder EOI: https://lnkd.in/gJQXpAp8 -- David Arnold Barcaldine Regional Council Barcoo Shire Council BOULIA SHIRE COUNCIL Diamantina Shire Council Winton Shire Council Longreach Regional Council Tony Rayner Sean Dillon Rick Britton

LANDHOLDER EXPRESSION OF INTEREST https://lnkd.in/gfhYi4wi The RAPAD Power Grid project wants to ensure the community, particularly landowners and First Nations Custodians, understand the opportunities this project can offer, and if people want to get involved by hosting renewable energy, there is a framework to discuss this possibility. This EOI process aims to ensure a coordinated and efficient approach to new investment in the region with the objective of delivering strong economic, social and environmental benefits to the central west, and all of Queensland. #poweringthesuperpower #RAPADPowerGrid #NaturePositive VisIR RAPAD - Remote Area Planning and Development Board Barcaldine Regional Council