Federal Labor's community battery and electric vehicle policies will spur creation of clean energy jobs and unleash investment in the industries of the future, the Electrical Trades Union said today.
Labor's plan pledges $200 million towards installing 400 community batteries across the country. This will support households to store energy from solar rooftops, reducing demand on the grid at peak times and cutting emissions.
It also allows households that can't install solar to draw the excess energy stored in community batteries.
Labor has also pledged to introduce a discount on electric cars as well as a national electric vehicle strategy to encourage electric vehicle manufacturing.
"This is the kind of energy policy that will deliver on all fronts. It will create jobs, it will put downward pressure on energy bills and it will help Australia reduce emissions," said Trevor Gould, ETU spokesman.
"If implemented, these policies would accelerate Australia's transition to clean energy, give us a more reliable grid and importantly it will do it by creating jobs and lowering energy costs.'
"The ALP's commitment to making sure these community batteries are installed by licenced electricians also means the community can be confident they will be safe and reliable, Australian electrical workers are some of the best trained and highest skilled in the world.
"This is a policy that grapples with the world that is coming, rather than harking back to the past. This is a good policy announcement for energy and electrical workers."
Eimar O'Sullivan 0419 499 886
