THE CLIMATE COUNCIL has welcomed the Victorian Government’s plans to secure its clean energy future, after the state government flagged its intentions to legislate its Renewable Energy Targets.

Climate Councillor and energy expert Andrew Stock said the Victorian Government’s plans to lock-in the state’s renewable targets set at 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025 as “an excellent start” to securing the state’s energy market.

“We’ve already seen in South Australia that it is possible to achieve significant increases in renewable energy uptake within just a decade – this is happening not just here but also abroad too,” he said.

Stock, an energy sector veteran who oversaw the construction of the last three gas power stations on Australia’s east coast said this state government leadership will ensure Victoria meets its commitments to slash its own emissions, while also aiding Australia to tackle climate change globally.

“These plans to lock-in Victoria’s renewable targets will put the state on a path to help Australia achieve its Paris commitments by 2030.”

“This again proves that large-scale renewable energy, such as wind and solar are now the cheapest forms of new power generation.

The announcement comes as the Federal Government remains trapped in limbo, failing to produce climate and energy policy to assist Australia’s transition to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy and storage technology.