The Victorian government has stepped up its advocacy for offshore wind, with Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio telling the federal government to “put ideology aside”, stop delaying and bring offshore wind laws to Parliament.
Friends of the Earth welcome the Minister’s comments, and says legislating for offshore wind is critical to pave the way for the sector, which could be a game changer for climate action and play a key role in post-Covid recovery efforts.
The Energy Minister made the comments during the Smart Energy Council’s ‘Stimulus Summit’ yesterday, in which D’Ambrosio stressed Victoria has the best offshore wind resource in the country but many projects face uncertainty and delays due to the federal government’s lack of legislation.
Victoria could be home to the country’s first offshore wind project the Star of the South, which was first publicly proposed in 2017, and expected to power as many as 1.2 million homes with clean, renewable energy if it goes ahead.
While a coalition of the willing is building in favour of offshore wind among unions, climate groups and states leading on renewables, the Morrison government is missing in action as it focuses on trying to prop up the gas industry during Covid-19.
"The Star of the South offshore wind farm is a game changing project that was first publicly proposed back in 2017 -- now it's time for Angus Taylor to get a move on and bring national offshore wind laws to parliament as a matter of urgency" said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth's renewable energy spokesperson.
Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor has been a long-term opponent of renewable energy, a reputation he has struggled to shed talking up fossil fuel industries, which drive dangerous climate impacts.
"It's baffling that Energy Minister Angus Taylor is trying to prop up the ailing gas industry under the cover of Covid, when the priority should be building the cleantech industries of the future like offshore wind that create jobs and cut emissions" added Simons.
Australia stands to reap significant benefits for jobs, investment and the climate by actively building an offshore wind sector, and it's time for the federal Coalition to put ideology aside and bring offshore wind laws to Parliament.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Pat Simons,
Yes 2 Renewables Coordinator, Friends of the Earth
0415 789 961