It has been a busy few weeks, but there’s an opportunity to secure a Victorian Renewable Energy Target so we’re working around the clock to get a good outcome.

A little over a fortnight ago the Daniel Andrews government backed our long-standing campaign to reinstate the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET).

Predicting PM Abbott’s attack on renewables, we knew that a safety net was needed to grow renewable energy and protect jobs. And getting Premier Andrews on board has given Yes 2 Renewables‘ campaign for a VRET new momentum.

While there are creative ways for the Andrews government to establish a VRET, a little-known clause in the legislation — Section 7c — prevents them from using the most straight-forward option.

Academics Anne Kallies (RMIT University) and Dylan McConnell (University of Melbourne) explain:

Under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, corporations don’t have to comply with the state schemes which “substantially correspond” to the federal RET (in section 7c).

This commitment was part of an agreement between state and federal governments to pursue strong action on renewable energy through a national scheme, finally ending the inaction of the federal government under John Howard. The explanatory memorandum of the amending act expressly states that the VRET “substantially corresponds” to the federal RET scheme.

With that in mind, removing Section 7c offers the chance to get a positive VRET outcome in the short term. It would allow Victoria to grow renewables using a mechanism familiar to investors and industry.

With a VRET in place, our state can get on with the job of building the 15 wind farms that are already approved across the state, unlocking $5 billion worth of investment and creating thousands of jobs.

Federal parliamentarians should acknowledge the Victorian government’s commitment to a VRET and amend legislation to remove Section 7c.

When the states agreed to handover their right to have their own RETs, it was because an ambitious target of 41,000 megawatt hours was on the table. The Abbott government’s 20 per cent cut to the RET means the spirit of the original agreement has been broken.

Removing section 7c is the right thing to do. It gives the states and territories freedom to use all available policy tools to grow renewable energy. And it will give the sector momentum for the next federal Labor government that has pledged to increase the RET next time it’s in office.