The Clean Energy Council supports the decision of the Andrews Government to ban gas connections in planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions in Victoria from January 2024.
The announcement follows the lead of the Australian Capital Territory, which will have new regulations in place by the end of the year prohibiting new gas connections in new suburb or new infill developments.
Clean Energy Council Policy Director of Decarbonisation, Anna Freeman, said that it was clear that electrification was the best decarbonisation strategy for households to end a reliance on expensive and inefficient fossil gas.
“Electrification of heating and cooking in homes is more efficient, cheaper to run, and free of emissions for households using renewable electricity. In this context, the continued expansion of Victoria's gas distribution network makes no economic or environmental sense,” she said.
"Today’s announcement is an important step towards the decarbonisation of our energy system, but we will need to go much further and faster for Victoria to meet its ambitious emissions reduction targets of 75 – 80 per cent by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2045.
"All Victorian households and businesses will ultimately need to switch from gas to renewable electricity, and the updated Gas Substitution Roadmap must set out a clear strategy for managing this transition in an orderly but accelerated manner.
"We look forward to working with the Victorian Government as it develops the next phase of this strategy,” she said.
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Jane Aubrey
Clean Energy Council Public Affairs Manager
[email protected]
+61 409 470 683
