Victoria's Renewable Energy Roadmap revealed

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled the Renewable Energy Roadmap — his government’s plan to attract Victoria’s share of renewable energy investment and jobs in Australia by 2020.

The roadmap outlines a set of initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of renewable energy projects in Victoria. It has been developed in partnership with key energy sector stakeholders, including industry, consumer groups and environment groups.

The roadmap identifies the following four priority areas:

• Establishing a renewable energy target of no less than 20% by 2020.
• Using the government’s electricity purchasing power to support the creation of hundreds of renewable energy jobs.
• Ending unfair discrimination and improving access to the grid for solar customers.
• Supporting clean energy jobs through the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund.

The government also launched an initiative to source renewable energy certificates from new projects in Victoria, bringing forward around $200 million of new investment in renewables.

It is expected that around 1000 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the construction of the new projects, with most of the new jobs — and projects — based in regional Victoria.

“Renewable energy means jobs,” said Andrews. “Our plan puts us on course to build more projects and drive growth.”

Public consultation on the roadmap will feed into the development of the Victorian Renewable Energy Action Plan, which will set long-term actions to drive renewable energy investment in our state.

The roadmap can be viewed on the Energy and Earth Resources website. Written submissions on the roadmap can be sent to renewable.energy@ecodev.vic.gov.au until 30 September 2015.