The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has been announced as winner of the Government category in this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards for the success of their Victorian Renewable Energy Target Reverse Auction.
Victoria’s first renewable energy auction is supporting the development of more than 900 megawatts of new clean energy, reducing energy prices for consumers and greenhouse gas emissions.
The auction, part of the Victorian Renewable Energy Targets, was initially expected to deliver at least 650MW of renewable energy but the auction delivered 928MW of renewable energy – almost 45 per cent more power than originally anticipated. The program will ensure that 25 per cent of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources by 2020, 40 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.
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At the annual Awards’ ceremony in Melbourne, the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio presented Enable Social Enterprises as winner of the Premier’s Recognition Award for their work training and employing disadvantaged people in a thriving e-waste business.
The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award was presented to the Finnigan family from Kia Ora property out of Warrnambool, a wool producing family farm that runs an Ethical, Sustainable, Profitable program right across its site and operations.
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Sustainability Victoria’s interim Chief Executive, Carl Muller, said the awards showed how management of environmental issues was of growing importance for all Victorians – no matter age, no matter where they live or what they do.
“Each year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards continue to discover Victoria’s best and most inspiring Victorian individuals, organisations and businesses that are developing and implementing new sustainable practices,” he said.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your contributions will have positive long-term benefits for us all.”
