The Victorian government’s announcement of plans to support 600 megawatts of new renewable energy projects is the first big sign that clean energy and climate solutions will power Victoria’s economic recovery.
“It is great to see the Andrews government focusing its job-creating efforts on the clean industries of the future,” said Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze.
“In response to COVID-19, the smartest governments around the world are stimulating their economies in ways that solve our biggest challenges like climate change.
“Victoria’s old and heavily polluting coal power stations won’t be around for much longer and it’s vital we put Victorians to work now building clean energy to replace them.”
An Environment Victoria policy briefing released in August found Victoria was facing a lull in renewable energy projects without increased government support and called for a new round of Victorian Renewable Energy Target auctions.
“The Andrews government’s first Victorian Renewable Energy Target auction supported over 1500 jobs in regional Victoria and resulted in the Geelong Ford Factory being repurposed to make parts for wind turbines,” Mr La Nauze said.
“The local content requirements that can come with government tenders are also a boon for local supply chain manufacturers.
“In the absence of a coherent national energy policy, the pipeline of future work is drying up. The state government’s commitment to supporting renewable energy projects is essential to keep Victoria’s wind and solar industries thriving.
“We welcome today’s announcement, and we hope to see further government commitments to ensure a steady and growing pipeline of renewable energy and storage projects in Victoria.
“The state budget in October will be another key moment to show how climate solutions can drive our economic recovery. The next step is government support to make households and businesses more energy efficient, which would create jobs across the state, reduce power bills and cut pollution,” said Mr La Nauze.
Media and Content Manager
Greg Foyster, 0410879031, g.foyster@environmentvictoria.org.au