Victoria seeks higher target
The Victorian government is moving to legislate a renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030.
The Andrews Government has introduced a Bill into parliament to legislate increasing Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target (VRET).
The Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Amendment Bill 2019 seels to ensure 25 per cent of the state’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources by 2020, and 40 per cent by 2025.
The Government says the increased VRET will create around 24,000 jobs by 2030 and drive an additional $5.8 billion in economic activity in Victoria.
The VRET measures include working with Federation University to establish a dedicated Global Wind Organisation Standard Course to help train Victorians to work in the wind power industry.
“Putting more renewable energy on the grid will also drive down the cost of power for Victorians – delivering savings of around $32 a year for households, $3,100 a year for medium businesses and $150,000 each year for large companies,” an official statement claims.
“These targets help industry to invest with certainty, creating local jobs – particularly in regional Victoria,” Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said.
Solar power advocates say the Victorian home solar sector would welcome more jobs and certainty.
The state’s Solar Homes scheme has been accused of damaging the residential PV sector because of the way the rebooted rebate scheme is being managed.
“It is effectively putting a cap on residential solar installations in the state due to the number of rebates being released each month and the nature of the scheme’s eligibility criteria,” according to solar PV journalist Michael Bloch.
“The demand is there, but the rebates aren’t and Victorians are holding off on buying solar.
“As a result of all this, the state’s residential solar sector is shrinking – jobs are already being lost by the bucketload and Minister D’Ambrosio has been told this on a number of occasions.”