The Victorian Government has taken its first steps towards a significant increase in renewable energy sources for the state by announcing the streamlining of approvals for large-scale renewable projects like wind farms and thermal solar plants.
In the recently released Climate Change White Paper the Government set a target for up to 25 per cent of Victoria’s power to be delivered from renewable sources by 2020.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Peter Batchelor said improvements to the planning approval methods were essential if this target was to be met. He was responding to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee (ENRC) of Parliament Inquiry into Approval Processes for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria.
“We know Victoria has significant renewable energy potential and our Government is committed to making Victoria an attractive location for renewable investment while ensuring that proposals are developed responsibly and in partnership with local communities,” he said.
Changes as a result of the Inquiry include:
- Planning Panels would need to report to the Planning Minister within 90 days of the end of panel hearings;
- Greater transparency on projects by making information on the approvals process freely available on the DPCD and DPI websites; and
- An investigation of how best to share the benefits (cheaper renewable electricity and cuts to carbon emissions) across the community.
Max Sylvester, co-founder of solar company, Energy Matters, welcomed the announcement.
“One of the biggest contributors to concentrated investment in renewable energy projects, like the $1 billion Macarthur wind farm, is good government policy and cutting red tape,” he said. “If we’re serious about becoming global leaders in growth markets like solar and wind turbine technology, we need support from our elected leaders.”
Mr Sylvester has previously called on the Federal Government to institute similar streamlining of national planning guidelines for large-scale renewable energy plants, including photovoltaic-based solar farms.
