Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017

Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Authorised Version i Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Section Page Part 1—Preliminary 1 1 Purposes 1 2 Commencement 2 3 Definitions 2 4 Declared renewable energy sources 2 5 Objects 2 6 Crown to be bound 3 Part 2—Renewable energy targets and capacity determinations 4 7 Renewable energy targets 4 8 Minister to report to the Parliament annually on progress 4 9 Capacity determinations 5 Part 3—General 6 10 Regulations 6 ═══════════════ Endnotes 7 1 General information 7 -- 1 of 8 -- Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Authorised Version 1 Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 † No. 56 of 2017 [Assented to 8 November 2017] The Parliament of Victoria enacts: Part 1—Preliminary 1 Purposes The main purposes of this Act are— (a) to establish renewable energy targets for Victoria; and (b) to support schemes to achieve targets under this Act and to encourage investment and employment in Victoria. Victoria -- 2 of 8 -- Part 1—Preliminary Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 2 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 2 Commencement (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into operation on a day or days to be proclaimed. (2) If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 June 2018, it comes into operation on that day. 3 Definitions In this Act— large-scale facility means a generation facility that has a generation capacity of more than 100 kilowatts; renewable energy source means any of the following energy sources— (a) solar; (b) wind; (c) an energy source declared by the Minister under section 4; renewable energy target means a renewable energy target set out in section 7. 4 Declared renewable energy sources The Minister, by notice published in the Government Gazette, may declare an energy source other than a prescribed source to be a renewable energy source for the purposes of this Act. 5 Objects The objects of this Act are— (a) to increase the proportion of Victoria's electricity generated by means of large-scale facilities that utilise renewable energy sources or convert renewable energy sources into electricity; and -- 3 of 8 -- Part 1—Preliminary Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 3 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (b) to contribute to achieving the renewable energy targets; and (c) to support the development of projects and initiatives to encourage investment, employment and technology development in Victoria in relation to renewable electricity generation; and (d) to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria and to achieve associated environmental and social benefits; and (e) to promote the transition of Victoria to a clean energy economy; and (f) to contribute to the security of electricity supply in Victoria. 6 Crown to be bound This Act binds the Crown, not only in right of Victoria but also, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities. -- 4 of 8 -- Part 2—Renewable energy targets and capacity determinations Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 4 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Part 2—Renewable energy targets and capacity determinations 7 Renewable energy targets The renewable energy targets are— (a) by 2020, for 25% of electricity generated in Victoria to be generated by means of facilities that generate electricity by utilising renewable energy sources or converting renewable energy sources into electricity; and (b) by 2025, for 40% of electricity generated in Victoria to be generated by means of facilities that generate electricity by utilising renewable energy sources or converting renewable energy sources into electricity. 8 Minister to report to the Parliament annually on progress (1) The Minister must report to the Parliament for each financial year on— (a) the progress made towards meeting the renewable energy targets; and (b) the performance of schemes to achieve targets under this Act that promote the generation of electricity by large-scale facilities that utilise renewable energy sources or convert renewable energy sources into electricity; and (c) investment and employment in Victoria in relation to renewable electricity generation. (2) The report must be in writing and contain the information determined by the Minister. -- 5 of 8 -- Part 2—Renewable energy targets and capacity determinations Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 5 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (3) The Minister must cause the report for the financial year to be laid before each House of the Parliament on or before 31 October in the subsequent financial year or, if a House is not then sitting, on the first sitting day of that House after 31 October. 9 Capacity determinations The Minister, by notice published in the Government Gazette, must determine the minimum amounts of renewable energy generation capacity required to meet the targets under this Act for the purposes of contributing to the achievement of— (a) the renewable energy target for 2020—by 31 December 2017; and (b) the renewable energy target for 2025—by 31 December 2019. -- 6 of 8 -- Part 3—General Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 6 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Part 3—General 10 Regulations (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for or with respect to any matter required or permitted to be prescribed or necessary or convenient to be prescribed to give effect to this Act. (2) Regulations made under this section may— (a) be of general or limited application; and (b) differ according to differences in time, place or circumstance. ═══════════════ -- 7 of 8 -- Endnotes Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 No. 56 of 2017 7 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Endnotes 1 General information See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information. † Minister's second reading speech— Legislative Assembly: 24 August 2017 Legislative Council: 21 September 2017 The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to establish renewable energy targets for Victoria, to support schemes to achieve targets under the Act and for other purposes." -- 8 of 8 --