Our mission is to promote community action that reduces
greenhouse emissions and embraces sustainable living.
​​We provide a innovative suite of low cost technical advice
and project delivery services.
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Our Story
GV Community Energy began in 2008 as a volunteer group. The aim was to facilitate a bulk purchase of around 15 rooftop solar pv systems for families in the Murchison area.
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An enormous response from the surrounding communities saw 450 people attending the initial public meeting. Over 500 solar panel systems were later installed as part of this founding project.
This was followed by three additional bulk buy projects resulting in 1,700 more solar pv and 150 solar hot water systems being installed after delivering 31 public seminars in northern Victoria.
In 2010 the organisation evolved into a not for profit company governed by a volunteer board. Permanent staff were hired and an additional 1,000 solar PV systems were able to be installed over the following 3 years.
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We continued to offer other energy savings initiatives and environmental services including; solar pv design, building energy audits and managing a native seed bank at Euroa.
By 2020, we had been successfully awarded a council lease to build the GVCE Mooroopna Solar farm project. We helped support a wide network of other community groups via the Hume Community Power Hub and the Small Business Energy Saver program. We partnered with the Brotherhood of St Lawrence to deliver power saving bonus to help families in need throughout covid.
In 2025 we become a registered charity and started developing our 'solar for good' program. This pilot project has already raised $60,000 in donations from our generous philanthropic supporters.
Our diverse range of services continues to expand to include strategic zero carbon plans, community benefit funds, revegetation programs, embedded electricity networks and community battery programs.
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GVCE Board
Geoff Lodge
CEO
Geoff co-founded GVCE in 2008. He has over 20 years prior experience in the Victorian public service managing natural resource management projects on irrigation properties. Geoff’s combined program management skills and connection within the local community has enabled him to have considerable influence on key stakeholders aligned with GV Community Energy programs.
Ian Christoe
Ian has worked almost entirely on his family mixed farming business at Undera, Victoria. He took over management in 1986 and implemented changes resulting in better irrigation management and crop productivity.
Trevor Phillips
Trevor has been a small business owner for the past 25 years. He is passionate about human rights and environmental responsibility.
John Pettigrew
Chairman
John has had a lifelong connection to the Goulburn Valley. He has a strong horticulture, grazing and irrigation background and is an experienced past director of publicly listed (SPC Limited) and Government Authorities (Goulburn-Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority).
Austin Hazeldene
Austin has 20 years of experience working on large scale engineering and construction projects across Victoria within commercial building, water and roads industries. He is based in Benalla and has strong community ties within the surrounding North East Region.
Terrry Court
Deputy Chair
Terry is a civil engineer with over 40 years experience in the rural water industry, possessing a wealth of professional experience and extensive community involvement in natural resource management, environmental asset restoration, irrigation, drainage, water catchment, river management, industrial relations, human resources, asset management and contract administration.
Lacey Gunn
Lacey has 12 years experience working in local government in rural and regional Victoria. This includes Community Engagement & Development, Strategic Planning, and Recreation Planning. Lacey is based in Mooroopna and is a strong advocate for sustainable living.
We work in partnership with First Nations people, other community organisations, leading businesses and government agencies across Victoria.
