Connecting Gippsland’s Clean Energy Future
Making connections, from left: Gippsland Climate Change Network Chief Executive Officer Darren McCubbin, AusNet Services Director G-REZ Lily Habib, AusNet Services General Manager Infrastructure Damien Sandford, Ausnet Manager Stakeholder and Community Engagement Renee Kurowski and Committee for Gippsland CEO Tony Cantwell.
The Committee for Gippsland welcomes plans for additional transmission infrastructure in Gippsland which will support new energy investment into the region while creating employment opportunities for locals.
The Committee for Gippsland’s CEO Tony Cantwell said enabling infrastructure which better coordinates and connects renewable energy projects into Victoria’s electricity grid was an exciting step towards realising Gippsland’s transition from traditional energy generation to a clean energy future.
“Gippsland has a pipeline of renewable energy projects, and this transmission line will not only enable these projects to progress but also proceed through a more coordinated and streamlined manner,” Mr Cantwell said.
“This connecting infrastructure will help create jobs and ensure our region’s economy is well placed to secure sustainable investment in our region’s transitioning energy sector.“
AusNet Services plan to develop 85 kilometres of the Gippsland Renewable Energy Zone (G-REZ) transmission extending from Giffard in the Wellington Shire to the Latrobe Valley which will enable multiple developers to connect into the National Electricity Market via a common grid connection.
“Gippsland has approximately 11GW of renewable energy projects already in various stages of development and coordinating their connection back to the grid is important for industry, community and the environment,” Mr Cantwell said.
“Renewable energy projects like those proposed in Gippsland will not only provide new job opportunities but also provide training and skill development at local training providers to ensure we can meet energy demand.
“It is great to see this level of investment and opportunity in renewable energy right here in Gippsland with local business, industry and the community ready to be engaged in the process.”
Local community and other key stakeholders will also have an opportunity to learn more about the project at a series of upcoming community pop up sessions in Sale, Rosedale, Traralgon and Yarram. Details about the pop ups, including dates and times, can be found on the G-REZ website – www.grez.com.au