[no bill text published] NSW New Rule to Put a Renewable Energy Plan on the Climate Change Commission Website

Electricity Infrastructure Investment Amendment (Renewable Energy Sector Plan) Bill 2024

Independent Bill

15 Aug 2024: This bill has lapsed and is no longer under discussion.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

electricity customers energy sector planning local production targets network infrastructure public consultation renewable energy

Introduced by: Roy Butler MP (IND)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The board must give a draft renewable energy sector plan to the Minister for approval; it must make any changes the Minister requests.
The board must publish draft plans online and invite public submissions for at least 28 days.
The Energy Minister must review public submissions and regulator recommendations before approving a plan.
The regulator can make recommendations to the Energy Minister about the plan.
The regulator must check if a plan fits international trade rules; it must also consider economic benefits for the community and the financial interests of electricity customers.
The board must decide within 60 working days if it will increase local production targets after receiving a request; it must publish its decision.
The Energy Minister can ignore local supply targets for network infrastructure projects if there is a supply shortage.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Jihad Dib ALP

“On behalf of the Government, I contribute to debate on the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Amendment (Renewable Energy Sector Plan) Bill 2024, introduced by the member for Barwon. The member is always a strong advocate for his community and for economic development throughout regional New South Wales.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Electricity Infrastructure Investment Amendment (Renewable Energy Sector Plan) Bill 2024

Mr ROY BUTLER, Member for Barwon — 2024-05-09

The bill will omit section 8 (2) to (4) and insert the requirement that the board give the Minister a draft plan for approval and make any amendments to the draft plan requested by the Minister. The board may amend the draft plan at any time, with the Minister’s approval. However, the draft plan must be published on the department’s website and invite submissions on the draft or proposed amendment for the standard 28 days. Not only does the board have to invite submissions but, before a draft plan or amended plan is approved by the Minister, the Minister must consider the submissions received and any recommendation of the regulator. Without criticising the board, the current process seems to operate by osmosis. There is no requirement for the board to respond to a request, no fixed time frames and certainly no transparency of decision-making.