Media Release Wednesday 15 November 2017

VRET a vote of confidence in Victoria and no confidence in the NEG

The Australian Wind Alliance welcomes the news that the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) Reverse Auction has opened for tenders.

A testament to State energy leadership, it will be the largest renewable energy auction ever held in Australia, set to deliver up to 650 megawatts (MW) of new large-scale renewable energy for Victoria.

“This is what leadership and confidence looks like. The Victorian government is to be congratulated,” said Andrew Bray, National Coordinator of the Australian Wind Alliance.

“Victoria has world-leading wind resources and the VRET creates the policy certainty needed to generate jobs and economic benefits to communities all across the state.”

Australia’s Heads of State and Environment Ministers will meet next Friday in Tasmania to debate the Federal Government’s proposed National Energy Guarantee (NEG).

While little detail of the NEG modelling has been publicly released, it has been criticised for not going far enough to secure a clean future for renewable energy in Australia.

Bray said confident state-based renewable energy policy would make upcoming COAG discussions difficult for the Federal Government.

“The Victorian Government committed to a strong target, legislated it and are now getting on with delivering it, while the Federal Government wants to take the country back to the drawing board by proposing a half-baked National Energy Guarantee.

“There was unanimous agreement from the states for a Clean Energy Target. Instead, the Federal government is further delaying policy progress.

“Why would Victoria delay their own jobs and investment plan to wait for the Turnbull government to sort out their own internal divisions over climate policy?

“Victoria needs to be ready for the closure of ageing coal plants like Yallourn. This announcement readies the for a smooth energy transition, guarding against price spikes.”