The Government of Victoria in Australia has agreed to provide funding to Grampians New Energy Taskforce (GNeT) and Federation University TAFE Australia.
GNeT, which comprises local government representatives, regional partnership members as well as industry and community groups, will use the A$500,000 ($369,746) funding to develop a roadmap to transform the region into a low-carbon economy by 2050.
As part of the roadmap, the taskforce will focus on new economic and investment opportunities.
Federation University TAFE Australia is set to receive A$50,000 ($36,901) funding to develop a business case to establish an Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre in Ballarat.
The centre will focus on the development of an industry-recognised skilled workforce to construct, install and maintain renewable energy infrastructure.
This month alone, around A$3bn ($2.2bn) worth of wind farms are under construction in the Grampians region.
Victoria Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said: “The Grampians region is already a leader in renewable energy – and this funding will help it transition to a low carbon future.
“The proposed Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre has the potential to boost local jobs in the renewable energy sector – that’s why we’re supporting it with this funding.”
By developing a new energy policy, the government aims to reduce greenhouse gases, tackle climate change and deliver Victorian Renewable Energy Targets of 25% and 40% by 2020 and 2025, respectively.
National environment Group Friends of the Earth said that the announcements are positive signs of the long pipeline of work in wind and solar getting underway.
