Energy Policy

PRINCIPLES

1. State and local energy strategies must be based upon the principles of ecological sustainability and social equity.

2. The climate crisis requires a sustainable energy industry that is net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The shift to renewables represents the only viable route.

3. Incentives for sustainable transformation of the energy sector need to be accompanied by disincentives for the consumption of fossil fuel.

4. All buildings, vehicles, machinery and appliances need to be energy-efficient and powered by reliable renewable energy.

5. All households need affordable energy to meet essential needs.

6. Environmental effects and pollution costs must be factored into the price of energy, especially that derived from fossil fuels.

7. Government has a central and vital role to play in creating net zero emission energy sector and industries, including drawdown.

8. Energy is an essential utility, therefore regulation of all energy infrastructure must be transparent and government controlled.

9. New utility-scale infrastructure, including energy generation, storage, networks and retail shall generally be in public or community hands whilst allowing additional private investment in further generation to accelerate the transition to 100% renewables.

10. Utility-scale Energy Storage must generally be in public or community ownership to ensure control of pricing and stability, and to ensure public control of and returns from energy exported overseas.

AIMS

Targets

1. Binding Victorian greenhouse gas emission targets from the stationary energy sector in line with a reduction to zero or net negative greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, and no later than 2030.

2. Phasing out the Victorian use of fossil fuels using a combination of energy efficiency, energy storage, energy conservation and renewable energy.

Supply

3. 100% energy generation from renewables.

4. Boosting small scale renewable energy generation, including the introduction of a fair feed-in tariff and removing barriers to grid connection.

5. Installing new or upgraded publicly owned transmission infrastructure to ensure full and proper networks connections for all approved and installed renewable energy facilities, avoiding wasted generation.

6. Government buildout of wide-spread non-proprietary electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.

7. Supporting and assisting the development of markets for alternative sustainable fuels.

8. Construction of a comprehensive system of storage and transmission to achieve energy security and reliability from 100% renewables regulated in the public interest.

9. Cease the burning of wood chips from native forests and from waste for power generation.

10. Developing and implementing complementary policy measures in collaboration with other governments where possible.

Demand

11. An emphasis in Victoria on demand reduction through energy conservation and efficiency measures across all sectors.

12. Removing perverse incentives that encourage use of fossil fuels and growth in energy consumption achieved through reform of the national energy market and by other measures.

13. Assisting industrial and commercial energy consumers to reduce consumption, and enforcing existing energy efficiency standards.

14. Assistance for consumers to conserve energy and to access affordable and reliable renewable energy

15. Assistance for electricity users to reduce summer peak electricity demand and support for vulnerable consumers affected by outages.

16. Assisting industry to convert from all fossil fuels and their derivatives to renewable energy by, for example, retrofitting or replacing equipment.

17. Implementing measures to ensure that development across Victoria is energy, water and waste efficient.

18. Improving and implementing mandatory energy performance standards for buildings.

19. Mandating compliance with emissions standards and the disclosure of energy performance ratings for buildings prior to construction, refurbishment, sale or lease.

20. Minimum energy and water efficiency standards for rental housing.

21. Developing, funding and publicising an energy retrofit strategy for existing buildings.

22. Supporting the production of biofuels by farmers for use as tractor fuels.

23. Promoting the sustainable use of electric vehicles.

Transition and Adaptation

24. Providing structural adjustment assistance for rural and regional consumers.

25. Ensuring the provision of effective fuel poverty alleviation measures.

26. The implementation of programs to assist Victorian communities that are dependent on coal and energy-intensive industries to make the transition to other more sustainable sources of economic prosperity.

Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies

27. No public funding for the existing fossil fuel industry.

28. Ending support for the development of gas- and oil-from-coal, and associated Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.

Reduced Emissions from Transport

29. Government buildout of wide-spread non-proprietary electric vehicle recharging infrastructure

Energy Policy as amended by State Council on 19th March 2022.