The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has released a new 20-year roadmap to deliver renewable energy, reduce emissions and provide cheap, reliable electricity across the State.
Deputy Premier, John Barilaro said the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap would deliver Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zones in the Central West and New England regions by 2030.
“The stimulus the Renewable Energy Zones will provide to regional communities will unlock over 9,000 new jobs and will be a huge boost to farmers and land owners, with $1.5 billion in lease payments expected to go to landholders hosting new infrastructure by 2042,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The Roadmap will make sure that renewables are developed where regional communities want them and where they are compatible with farming,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said the Roadmap set out a plan to modernise the State’s electricity infrastructure by cutting red-tape and speeding up approvals for transmission infrastructure; long duration storage such as pumped hydro, and on demand supply, like gas and batteries; and ensuring renewable projects proceeded where local communities wanted them and in ways that were consistent with farming.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Roadmap would grow the economy, create jobs and deliver an expected $32 billion of private sector investment in electricity infrastructure by 2030.
The first Renewable Energy Zone is planned for the Central-West Orana region of NSW.
The 57-page plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
