Energy companies "prospecting" for potential wind and solar projects are causing "distrust, uncertainty and anxiety" in many regional communities, according to a much-anticipated report, which has called for governments to take back the reins of the stalling clean energy transition.

The review by Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer comes amid growing grassroots resistance to the expansion of renewables and transmission projects and makes nine recommendations aimed at ensuring the right projects are built in the right places by the right people.

By 2030, the government wants 82 per cent of Australia's power to come from renewable sources (up from about 32 per cent now), a policy seen as crucial to achieving mandated climate targets.

'Mistrust' in hordes of developers

Mr Dyer said communities will benefit greatly from the transition through direct payments to farmers, the thousands of jobs created during construction, and the millions of dollars renewable energy companies are pumping into the regions through community benefit funds.

But he said poor engagement had led to a "material distrust" of some developers and suggested planning and regulation were still catching up.

The 42-page report is based on hundreds of submissions, surveys and meetings, and gives an insight into the experiences of regional communities in the path of renewable developments.

"The potential for new transmission lines … has unleashed a plethora of wind and solar farm developers, descending on the planned routes to attempt to sign up nearby landholders with exclusive contracts over their land," Mr Dyer noted in his report.

In some areas, landholders had been approached by multiple developers, all seeking to gain access to their property to investigate a potential project.

Governments must produce 'timely implementation and execution'

Mr Dyer has called on the states and territories to better plan and control who builds new generation projects, such as wind and solar, and where, and to establish independent, state-based complaints-handling processes.

He has also recommended developers be more tightly regulated and a new ratings system established to enable communities to differentiate between legitimate companies seeking to build projects on and near their land, and the "cowboys". 

"Like a boomerang that always returns if you throw it properly, this report and its recommendations now rests on timely implementation and execution," Mr Dyer said.

Accepting all nine recommendations in principle, Mr Bowen said the report clarified the need for "proper, earlier and better engagement".