The enormous power scheme, which is set to create 1300 jobs and replace much of the state's ageing coal-fired power plant generation capacity, was enshrined in law last year.

Government has since moved quickly on the plan, with MP Adam Marshall announcing a timeline for the first concrete steps towards the project on Thursday.

By the end of March, energy and power storage developers will be asked to register their interest in the scheme.

READ MORE:

The expression of interest process will the first step in the long planning process for the 8,000 megawatt zone, the MP said.

"The registration of interest process will help the government understand the scale, location and types of projects considering joining the New England renewable energy zone (REZ)," Mr Marshall said.

"The information provided will support technical design, planning and further market engagement on the zone.

"Establishing this renewables zone is a monumental undertaking and will take several years to plan, design and build and will be delivered in stages."

The zone is a crucial element of the Australian Energy Market Operator's Integrated System Plan, a roadmap to an energy system dominated almost exclusively by renewable energy by 2040.

The New England's renewables zone will be developed with input from residents, landholders, councils, local Aboriginal groups and other local voices.

Government will establish what the MP called a "regional reference group" to "guide" the consultation process.

Mr Marshall said the process would guarantee the design of the renewable energy zone would not sacrifice productive agricultural land for renewables development.

Consultation with local government over the project has already begun.

Renewable energy advocate and National Director of RE-Alliance Andrew Bray said proper consultation would be a crucial element in the success of the zone.

"There's a real role for the community to be on the front foot and make clear to government, and to industry, what it is that they want out of this process.

"That can be in terms of jobs, in terms of community development, in terms of innovative projects that improve life in the regions."

He said the imminent development of a legislated Energy Corporation would give more insight into how that process would function. The corporation is expected to have the power to restrict the connection of projects that don't have a social licence.

The New England REZ is part of the state government's NSW electricity infrastructure roadmap, which became law on December 3 last year. The project will be delivered in stages, and is expected to be completed by 2030.

"For the first time in our region's history, we are on the cusp of being a net exporter of energy building wealth in our communities," Mr Marshall said.

"The overriding principle of the zone is that our communities get to be in the driver's seat for the very first time, helping determine what projects are allowed to come to our region and where they can and cannot be constructed."

HAVE YOUR SAY: Click here to send a letter to the editor.

The state government will also develop a Renewable Energy Sector Board and Jobs Advocate, which will help keep work and procurement for the enormous project in the local area.

TransGrid, the NSW transmission provider, last year started work on a $217 million upgrade in new transmission capacity in the New England region. The Interconnector scheme is designed to help move power between NSW and Queensland, but will also help encourage local renewables investment, because transmission capacity is the bottleneck for new projects.

Access to the transmission was oversubscribed by nearly seven times in a bidding process last year.

The New England is already dotted with energy projects, with about 3900 megawatts worth of projects in the development improvement pipeline as of December.

When completed the 8000 megawatt scheme will have the capacity to juice 3.5 million homes. There are four other zones planned in NSW alone.