The COVID crisis has been a hammer blow to all Victorians, not just from a health point of view but also to our economy. Once the health crisis is under control there will be an urgent need to create new jobs to bring our economy off its knees.

A new report titled ‘Putting jobs-rich climate solutions at the centre of Victoria’s economic recovery from COVID-19’ outlines just how this could be done. Victoria has an opportunity to create jobs, address climate change and provide energy security for the state. The Australian Wind Alliance has joined with six leading community organisations - Australian Conservation Foundation,  Beyond Zero Emissions, Climate Council, Environment Victoria, Friends of the Earth Melbourne and WWF Australia - to outline a range of policies to help a post Covid-19 recovery.

The key policy measure is to increase renewable energy generation, supply chains and jobs through the successful vehicle of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target. This one measure could “unlock local employment, training and manufacturing opportunities,” the report states.

Keppel Prince Engineering has shown we can manufacture renewable energy components here in Victoria. Clear government policy could see manufacturing jobs created throughout the state

We are lucky in Victoria with some of the best solar and wind (both on and offshore) resources in the world. Regional communities can be the biggest winners of the energy transition with job creation, community engagement and benefit-sharing initiatives that maximise benefits for regional communities from wind, solar and transmission. I have previously pointed out that places like Western Victoria and the Latrobe Valley are well placed to benefit from the energy transition.

And a big thanks to Environment Victoria for their leadership in driving this joint climate/recovery plan!

See the statement for yourself here or scroll below: