Regional communities would own a slice of renewable energy projects in their towns under a proposal from an independent federal politician.
Indi MP Helen Haines on Monday introduced a bill to parliament to set up the Australian Local Power Agency.
"Every spin of a wind turbine and every drop of sunlight should be generating income that stays in our communities," she told parliament.
The agency would provide funding and technical support for communities hoping to benefit from local renewable energy, and be able to underwrite such projects.
The bill would also cement a new requirement for large renewable energy projects to offer at least 20 per cent of the profits to locals living within 30km.
Ms Haines has likened the potential of renewables to that of the gold rush, which could drive an economic boom in the regions.
"But this time, we are not sitting on a gold mine but we are sitting under a gold mine, with our famous blue skies raining an endless supply of energy upon us," she said.
"It's time we in the regions stopped being passive recipients of the energy system and started being active owners of it."
Ms Haines said the ALPA would help regional communities have agency over their power supply, costs and profits.
The regional Victorian MP has looked at Europe for inspiration, pointing to Germany where farmers own 10 per cent of all renewable energy projects, and others in the community own 30 per cent.
The proposal is the result of extensive community consultation, prompted by numerous groups approaching the MP's office for advice on installing solar.
Independent MP Zali Steggall supported the bill's introduction to parliament, and said people within her Sydney electorate were also interested in community-owned energy projects.
The federal government is again divided over energy policy, with the Nationals jumping on Energy Minister Angus Taylor's bill - for gas projects - to push for taxpayer money to go towards coal and nuclear power.
Ms Steggall has also spoken with banks on the issue of land value, which she believes should be approached based on sustainability and carbon sequestration.
"These are some of the biggest questions, looking to the future, about how we value good land management," she told reporters in Canberra.
The federal government's gas-fired recovery from coronavirus continues to face opposition.
Feedback is open on the government's plans until Friday.
The Australia Institute has released analysis against it, saying that 10 per cent of the oil and gas industry's workforce lost their jobs in the year to December, a higher rate than other sectors.
The think-tank says the government should instead put taxpayer money towards industries where jobs are being created instead of lost.
