When the pandemic hit, we sharpened our focus on the job-creating opportunities of climate solutions and through social and print media we promoted the idea that Victoria must commit to ‘building back better’.
Our supporters emailed and called MPs to talk about economy-boosting solutions, from household energy efficiency rollouts and nature restoration programs to new renewable energy projects and grid upgrades. We put these ideas in front of key Victorian government decision makers and coordinated a joint submission with key climate, environment and industry groups highlighting jobs-rich climate solutions to drive Victoria’s economic recovery.
We also highlighted to government and through the media that, without another reverse auction under the Victorian Renewable Energy Target, no new renewable projects would come online in Victoria between 2022 and 2025.
At a time when the economy was under intense strain from the COVID-19 shutdown, we promoted the importance of supporting the renewable energy sector and maintaining important manufacturing chains to businesses and workers.
Our efforts paid off in September 2020, when the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced a significant step towards Victoria’s “renewables-led recovery” with a government tender process for at least 600 megawatts of new renewable energy projects, enough to power all Victorian hospitals, schools, trains and government operations with renewable energy.
Read our policy briefing paper here >>