Subscribe to Newsletter
  • ACQUIRE

logo

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Climate action a priority in ACT 2020-21 Budget

21 Jan, 2021



Through the 2020-21 budget, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government will build on the territory’s achievement of 100 per cent renewable electricity through investing $307 million over five years to take the next steps to transition the ACT to net-zero emissions.

This will occur through the following initiatives:

  • Establishing a $150 million fund for the Sustainable Household Scheme to offer zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 to help households with the upfront costs of investing in rooftop solar panels, household battery storage, zero-emission vehicles and efficient electric appliances;
  • Funding of $100 million over five years, including the 2020-21 financial year, will be allocated to deliver a Big Canberra Battery of at least 250 megawatts (MW) of new ‘large-scale’ battery storage distributed across the ACT;
  • Waiving registration fees on new ZEV registered vehicles for the first two years of registration from May 2021 to encourage more Canberrans to purchase electric vehicles;
  • Establishing a $5 million Building Energy Efficiency Upgrade Fund to support community clubs to undertake energy efficiency upgrades through initiative like water and ventilation audits, partial grants for certain energy and water efficiency upgrades and no-interest loans for certain upgrades such as rooftop solar;
  • Establishing a $50 million Vulnerable Household Energy Support Initiative to improve building efficiency and sustainability for social and public housing, low-income owner-occupiers and low performing rental properties;
  • Making it easier for ACT households to get better energy deals by making it mandatory for electricity retailers to provide customers with a reference bill for a typical consumer, and to notify customers of plans that would reduce the customer’s bills;
  • Initial funding of $855,000 to support phasing out fossil fuel gas through continuing work on the ACT’s sustainable energy policy actions and developing legislation to prevent new gas mains network connections to future stages of greenfield residential development in the ACT; and
  • Investing $915,000 over two years to establish an Office of the Coordinator General for Climate Action to coordinate government efforts and oversee major projects to keep our Climate Action commitments on track.

 

The Government stated that, at a time of climate crisis, it knows that the decisions made today will have significant consequences for future generations of Canberrans.

“The ACT Government has one of the most ambitious agendas for addressing climate change globally and is committed to showing other jurisdictions what is possible to achieve in a short period of time, while supporting all Canberra households through the necessary transition,” it said.

“These initiatives are the first steps to progressing the ACT Government’s commitment to Climate Action through the Parliamentary Agreement of the 10th Legislative Assembly.”

Having declared a climate emergency, Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury, said the Government is doing what it takes to cut greenhouse gas emissions and support the ACT community to withstand the impacts of climate change.

“This budget commits major new investment to help Canberrans live more comfortably and sustainably, tackling the biggest pieces in our emissions puzzle with a focus on phasing out fossil fuel gas and transforming ACT transport to be zero emissions,” Minister Rattenbury said.

“We’re aiming for an EV revolution over the next decade, with the ACT leading the transition to zero emissions transport. Free registration and no-interest loans for zero-emissions vehicles, along with a new network of 50 public charging stations for electric vehicles will make EVs a real option for Canberrans who may have been hesitant until now.”

“The budget supports the ACT’s nation-leading effort to phase out of fossil fuel gas, in line with our commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. It prevents gas connections in new suburbs, and offers no-interest loans for households to upgrade to efficient electric appliances,” he said.

“Importantly, the $50 million Vulnerable Household Energy Support Initiative will also help reduce energy bills, and improve energy efficiency in public housing, rental properties and for low-income owner-occupiers.”

Related Articles

Connecting Hydrogen APAC 2025

Australia Wind Energy 2025

AUSTRALIAN ENERGY WEEK 2025

Australian Energy Week 2025

Floating Wind - Europe

Floating Wind – Europe

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Breaking

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
09 Jun

AEMO’s distribution focus enables community participation

06 Jun

Report shows 20 million gained energy access in 2024

06 Jun

Kulak Solar Village is Iraq’s first off-grid community

06 Jun

5B receives $46 million to expand manufacturing

06 Jun

EnergyAustralia admits offsets do not undo harm

12 Jun

Cumberland celebrates planting its 1,000th tree

10 Jun

Stantec helps New Epping achieve sustainability excellence

09 Jun

RMIT engineers transform low-grade clay into cement

09 Jun

Perth’s urban tree canopy saw slight increase in 2024

30 May

Green homes now mainstream Australian property priority

09 Jun

Australia’s hydrogen certification framework faces scrutiny

09 Jun

Biofuel demand outpaces supply, risking shortages

28 May

Major contract awarded for methanol facility in UAE

27 May

Archaeologist accuses WA government of North West Shelf cover-up

13 May

Queensland resources sector drives energy transition

  • BATTERY ASSET MANAGEMENT SUMMIT

Online Magazine

    Current Cover
  • Login
  • Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe to Newsletter

Our Titles

  • Share on Newsletter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
© Sage Media Group 2025 All Rights Reserved.
×
Authorization
  • Registration
 This feature has been disabled
 This feature has been disabled until further notice, however you may still register
×
Registration
  • Autorization
Register
* All fields required