Renewable energy has emerged as a mainstream issue in the contested seat of Macedon. Anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu have cost the region jobs, investment and killed off a community wind farm proposal. In an electorate … Continue reading Coalition anti-wind laws: A double standard on energy
Renewable energy is a mainstream issue in the hotly contested seat of Macedon. Yes 2 Renewables have been supporting local community members who support renewable energy. So far in 2014, we’ve presented at the Woodend Sustainable Living Festival, published an open … Continue reading Renewable energy a mainstream issue in Macedon
The Napthine government is “missing in action” as the Victorian Labor opposition identifies renewable energy as a key growth sector for the state. Labor’s Back to Work policy released today commits the party to “Establish a $200 million Future Industries Fund to drive the six high-growth … Continue reading Napthine govt MIA as Andrews opposition identify renewable energy as key growth sector
Yes 2 Renewables call on the Napthine government and Andrews opposition to support a Victorian Renewable Energy Target as South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill announced the state will lift its ambition to 50 per cent by 2025.
Premier Weatherill’s announcement is welcome and cements South Australia’s leadership on renewables.
The state’s renewable energy boom in an economic success story and has resulted in world-leading renewable energy penetration. Renewable energy sourced now comprise ~40 per cent of the South Australia’s electricity generation capacity.
Meanwhile in Victoria, our renewable energy sector is languishing due to the Abbott government’s attacks on renewable energy and Premier Napthine’s indifference to date. It will take state government leadership to restore certainty, unleash investment and create jobs in the lucrative renewable energy sector.
Yes 2 Renewable have call on Premier Napthine and opposition leader Daniel Andrews to make a Victorian Renewable Energy Target a central plank of a state renewable energy strategy. The policy will drive investment in shovel-ready wind farm projects and encourage utility-scale solar farms.
A state Renewable Energy Target will unleash investment and create jobs in Victoria – which is something all political parties can support. A credible, job-creating renewable energy strategy will include a target for renewable energy.
The ACT has a renewables target of 90% by 2020. South Australia’s target has been lifted to 50% by 2025. Victoria doesn’t have a target and is falling behind on renewable energy. Victoria is losing jobs and investment to states with Renewable Energy Targets.
Victorians are hungry for strong renewable energy policies from the major political parties as the state heads to the polls. Public polling commissioned by the Climate Institute found 71 per cent of Victorians support state government policies that encourage renewables.
In August, The Greens endorsed our call for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target. They vow to use the “powers of persuasion” to reinstate the Victorian Renewable Energy Target.
Many Victorians will vote for renewable energy at the November 29 state election. Polling shows parties with a clear pro-renewable energy position will have an electoral advantage.
TAKE ACTION:Continue reading “Victoria needs renewables target as SA lifts ambition to 50% by 2025”
A candidates forum held in Melbourne last night saw two Victorian Labor shadow ministers in the hot seat: Lily D’Ambrosio the Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources, and Lisa Neville, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
The Victorian Labor shadow ministers reaffirmed the party is ‘in the business of growing renewable energy’ and didn’t rule out adopting a Victorian Renewable Energy Target.
The Labor restated its commitment to restoring the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) and abolish the anti-wind farm laws, at the forum, and pledged to release details of its highly-anticipated renewable energy strategy before polling day.
The audience was eager for assurances on climate policy, namely the establishment of an Renewable Energy Target for the state. The shadow ministers responded that Labor was open to a Renewable Energy Target but emphasised that federal constitutional laws were an obstacle. This claim to a “constitutional problem” was received as a weak qualification, since SA and ACT both have successful RETs in place.
Questions about the Renewable Energy Target from the audience were specific and demanding: “What will the target be and when will it be set?” D’Ambrosio and Neville explained that due to federal constitutional laws, a state scheme would not be able to bind corporations. D’Ambrosio however, did assert that if the Victorian Labor party was elected they could “find a way around [the laws].” Continue reading “Candidates Forum: ‘we’re in the business of growing renewable energy’, says Vic Labor”
A march attended by over 500 in Kyneton demonstrated strong public support for action on climate change and elevates renewable energy to a top issue in the hotly-contested seat of Macedon.
The “people’s march” is part of a global mobilisation calling on political leaders to take action to address global warming. The Kyneton march coincided with a global gathering of heads of state at the United Nations in New York City. An estimated 30,000 people marched in Melbourne, with a massive 300,000 taking to the streets in Manhattan.
In a rousing speech, Friends of the Earth’s Yes 2 Renewables coordinator Leigh Ewbank urged people to take their concern for climate change to the polls and vote for renewable energy in the imminent Victorian election.
“The Coalition government axed the Victorian Climate Change Act, slashed solar incentives, and banned wind farms in the Macedon Ranges” said Leigh Ewbank.
“A vote for renewable energy on November 29 will encourage whoever is elected to actively support wind farms with majority community support and champion a state target for renewables.”
A campaign by Yes 2 Renewables, the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and local community members calling on the government to dump its anti-wind farm laws has been gathering momentum. Continue reading “People’s March for Climate in Kyneton demonstrates huge support for renewables”
The Macedon Ranges will have a chance to Ride 4 Renewables and visit the site of what could be Victoria’s next community wind farm. Yes 2 Renewables are pleased to join Woodend Cycles in supporting the community event.
The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is hosting the family-friendly Ride 4 Renewables to raise awareness of the barriers to renewable energy in the region.
In 2011, the Baillieu government imposed an arbitrary blanket ban on wind farm in the region. The ban killed off the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group’s proposed community wind farm near Woodend. Macedon locals were set to follow in the footsteps of the successful Hepburn Wind Farm operating just 40 kilometres away in Leonard’s Hill. Continue reading “Ride 4 Renewables: Macedon”
Victoria has got what it takes to grow and maintain a thriving renewable energy jobs sector, but government policy roadblocks are standing in its way, a packed forum of locals heard in Portland on Sunday.
Former Australian Liberal party leader, Dr John Hewson, kicked off the Renewable Energy & Jobs Forum. Dr Hewson said governments need to do much more than we’re doing today to address climate change. “There are enormous opportunities from a sensible response to climate change,” Dr Hewson stated, referring to the jobs that can be created by the growing renewable energy sector.
Speakers from Portland-based businesses that employ hundreds of locals told the packed audience that renewable energy is a key pillar of south west Victoria’s regional economy. Continue reading “Government policy threatens Victoria’s renewable energy jobs, forum told”
News of former Premier Ted Baillieu’s retirement opens up space for Premier Napthine to dump the unpopular anti-wind farm laws.
“Ted Baillieu was the architect of Victoria’s anti-wind farm laws which cost the state 466 jobs and $864 million of investment,” Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth renewables spokesperson.
“It’s time for the government to show political leadership and dump Baillieu’s anti-wind laws. Such a move would be welcomed by wind energy workers and companies in Premier Napthine’s own electorate.”
The anti-wind farm planning laws introduced by Premier Baillieu include an unprecedented 2km right of veto for householders to block projects, as well as blanket bans in the windiest parts of the state.
A Friends of the Earth research report published in April found the anti-wind laws have cost the state: Continue reading “Baillieu retirement allows Premier Napthine to dump unpopular anti-wind farm laws”
The Coaltion’s anti-wind farm laws have been front page news in the hotly contested seat of Macedon.
In June, Yes 2 Renewables and the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group issued an open letter calling on 2014 election candidates to reveal their position on planning laws that ban community wind farms in the seat, and whether they’d support a renewable energy target for Victoria. (Find out what the candidates had to say in the issues here).
In the Macedon Free Press coverage of the candidates’ positions, Liberal Donna Petrovich asserted that wind energy is a bushfire risk. Continue reading “Macedon resident rejects Liberal candidate’s wind farm/bushfire fear mongering”
yes2renewables.org 