Daniel Andrews promises expanded solar panel scheme, higher renewables target

LABOR will expand its billion-dollar promise to put half-price solar panels on Victorian homes to include rentals, as it pledges to increase the state’s renewable energy target.

LABOR will expand its billion-dollar promise to put half-price solar panels on Victorian homes to include rentals, as it pledges to increase the state’s renewable energy target.

Premier Daniel Andrews today announced a $82 million extension to plop panels on 50,000 renters’ homes over the next 10 years.

It comes after an August pledge to save owner-occupiers up to $890 a year on their power bill through subsidised solar panels on 650,000 homes.

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Premier Daniel Andrews has pledged to increase Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target to 50 per cent by 2030. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

Today’s announcement also coincided with a pledge to increase Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target to 50 per cent by 2030.

Current targets set by the government say renewable sources must power a quarter of Victoria’s energy supply by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the solar panel scheme would save renters “the best part of $600 each year”.

“It’s a win-win for everybody involved,” Mr Andrews said.

“Solar panels on your roof and a renewable energy sector that is second to none — that is how we give power back to households to cut power bills to deal with the cost of living, and to create jobs along the way.”

If Labor is re-elected, Solar Victoria would oversee the scheme to ensure landlords did not jack up rents or give residents who shared the cost the boot.

The government would cover half the panel’s cost, while landlords and tenants would each pay a quarter over four years.

Tenants would make the repayments through a monthly levy.

Mr Andrews made the announcement at Gippsland Solar’s factory in Traralgon, an area hard hit by the closure of Hazlewood power station last year.

Dozens of jobs were lost, in an area with lower than average incomes — $561 compared with the $644 statewide average.

Labor are making a play for the marginal seat that covers the valley — Morwell — currently held by Nationals-turned-independent MP Russell Northe.

While spruiking his solar panels promise, Mr Andrews said the renewable energy sector was powering thousands of new jobs.

He denied that the new renewable energy targets could put jobs at risk, or were a message that coal-power providers needed to consider their futures.

“It is a balanced sensible approach,” Mr Andrews said.

“There is some coal-fired power, more and more investment in important renewable energy.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy confirmed that if he is elected on November 24 he will scrap the targets.

He foreshadowed the Coalition’s energy policies would be announced next week.

Gippsland Solar owner Andy McCarthy said “the conversation” in the Latrobe Valley had already shifted to renewable energy options.

“I get a little bit tired of people hearing whether we (the Latrobe Valley) are in transition or whether the energy market’s shifting towards renewables,” he said.

“From my perspective, I’m not even worried about that anymore.

“It is happening so let’s make sure the valley and wider Gippsland gets its fair share of that investment.”

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@moniquehore