Today the Victorian Greens will move to establish an inquiry into how Victoria can move to 100 per cent renewable energy, and out of coal, as soon as possible.
The inquiry would explore pathways for Victoria to transition its energy supply to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, in a way that would support workers and communities.
It would also explore the public and private investment needed to achieve this transition, including in grid infrastructure and energy storage.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for environment, Ellen Sandell, said that Victorians were now ready for stronger climate action, following the summer’s unprecedented fires, and that Victoria needed to follow the lead of the ACT and South Australia, who were both doing more on climate change in the wake of the fires.
When the Greens tried to increase the state’s renewable energy target last year, members of the crossbench expressed support for a more ambitious target but weren’t sure how it could be achieved.
This inquiry would provide both a road map for how to increase our renewable energy and a realistic timeline.
As stated by Victorian Greens spokesperson for environment, Ellen Sandell MP:
“We’ve just had a summer of horrendous, climate-fuelled fires, yet Victoria still gets 70 per cent of our energy from coal. The community wants Victoria to stop climate change and fires getting worse.
“This inquiry would look at how Victoria could do more on climate change and get to 100 per cent renewable energy, while looking after workers and communities.”
