Brumby policies worth $9 billion to Victoria: CEC

Victoria would benefit by up to $9 billion in renewable energy investment under the policies of the Brumby State Government, according to research commissioned by the Clean Energy Council.

The report, conducted by Carbon Market Economics for the CEC, found that this investment would increase renewable energy capacity by a substantial 3000 megawatts by 2016, the equivalent of powering an estimated 1.2 million homes.

It also found that an estimated 650 new jobs would be created each year through to 2016 in the construction and operation of the new facilities.

The study compared Victorian renewable energy policies in the run-up to the state poll on November 27.

CEC chief executive Matthew Warren said that his organization was not party political, but was campaigning for the best environmental policies.

“There’s no doubt that substantial wind farm investment and jobs will immediately leave Victoria if the Coalition’s current policies were adopted,” Warren said.

“This could effectively cripple the wind industry.”