An increased political emphasis on climate change will drive more community-owned clean energy projects in Victoria, renewable energy advocates say.

There are more than 70 community groups across Australia currently involved in the development of self-sustaining renewable projects, such as the Hepburn wind farm, west of Melbourne.

Hepburn Wind is the owner and operator of Australia's first community-owned wind farm, providing clean energy for more than 2,000 homes.

The Community Power Network's Nicky Ison said renewed support for renewable projects ahead of the upcoming federal election would help bolster similar projects across the state.

"We have amazing renewable energy sources, and most of those resources are located in regional Australia, particularly in south-west Victoria" she said.

"These projects, they provide greater levels of local employment and greater levels of investment opportunity, which means more money from the renewable energy boom stays circulating in regional economies."

Ms Ison said a direct investment in Community Power Network's, as outlined in the federal Opposition's wider Climate and Energy policy package announcement, could help prospective community-run projects navigate legal and technical challenges.

"It will help them negotiate a good power purchase agreement, and allow them to have some of that upfront funding to get through the riskier stages," she said.

Attitudes towards renewable 'changing for the better'

One of Australia's leading wind turbine manufacturers, Keppel Prince Engineering, said 2016 had proven to be a "significant" turning-point for renewable energy in the political sphere.

General manager Steve Garner said the industry had developed a renewed sense of confidence in the lead-up to the federal election.

"The Turnbull Government came out pretty well straight away and supported and recognised and understood the importance of climate change, so it's a complete turnaround from the Abbott government back [in 2013]," he said.

"It's really quite heartening for the industry to see these attitude changes... and we're better for it."