Thursday, 20 March 2025

Renewable energy

Nina TAYLOR (Albert Park) (00:37): (1088) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister D’Ambrosio. The Victorian government’s neighbourhood batteries program is helping communities around the state slash their bills and beat the cost of living. These batteries soak up cheap renewable energy from rooftop solar during the day and feed it back into homes or organisations at night, when it is most needed. They help communities slash thousands of dollars off their power bills, making the power grid more resilient and enabling more solar energy in our state. I am delighted that the minister has announced round 2 of the program, with 65 batteries in 43 communities around Victoria.

Mary-Anne Thomas: There’ll be one in Trentham.

Nina TAYLOR: There you go – and one in my electorate. The Salvation Army are being funded to install 22 batteries at food banks, crisis accommodation and community centres. They estimate that the batteries will return $790,000 of energy bill savings and income that they can invest back into frontline services for those most in need. I ask the minister: will you join me in my electorate to meet the people who install and benefit from these neighbourhood batteries? It is one more way that Victoria is slashing power bills for working families and leading the way with our commitment to cheap, renewable energy.