In a sign of how the upcoming Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) can benefit the state’s manufacturing industry through greater local content, Australia’s top wind manufacturer yesterday announced it will put on  50 new workers at the Keppel Prince wind tower factory in Portland.

The Andrews government has taken the first step towards it’s ambitious VRET plan, with state Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio opening the consultation process for Victoria’s Renewable Energy Auctions last Friday.

Friends of the Earth welcome the Andrews government’s long-awaited announcement of a 100 megawatt renewable energy purchase, saying it’s a sign of bigger things to come.

After a two-and-a-half year community campaign, the Andrews government announced Victorian Renewable Energy Targets of 25 percent by 2020 and 40 percent by 2025. Community groups, unions, industry, and renewable energy companies welcomed the initiative.

A City of Melbourne-led consortium is advertising a call for tenders for 110 gigawatt hours of renewable energy. The initiative is a welcome act of leadership as the Victorian government prepares to release it’s long-awaited Renewable Energy Action Plan.

A new wind farm was opened in Victoria as the Andrews government prepares to release its Renewable Energy Action Plan, which will set Renewable Energy Targets for the state.

A new Friends of the Earth report has found Victoria can hit an ambitious state Renewable Energy Target of 30 percent by 2020.

In mid-March, Yes 2 Renewables coordinator Leigh Ewbank joined Dylan McConnell of the University of Melbourne’s Energy Research Institute in a site tour of the Ararat wind farm.

In early March, Yes 2 Renewables visited Melbourne Town Hall to brief city councillors about our campaign for ambitious Victorian Renewable Energy Targets.

In March, Yes 2 Renewables jumped on the train to Brighton to meet Richard Martin, managing director of AEES Group–a renewable energy and efficiency company founded in 2014.