I speak in support of the Energy Legislation Amendment (Clean Energy Future) Bill 2024, which is about ensuring that the legislation keeps pace with the speed of the energy transition. It is so good to be part of a government that prioritises action on climate change and renewable energy. The Minns Labor Government has made action on climate change a whole-of-government priority. Climate change drives what we are doing. We are being responsible humans—and a responsible government—for the future. We are taking strong action on climate change to reduce our emissions; make our communities and environment more resilient to extreme weather events; and ensure that our economy is strong, robust and built on good, secure jobs.
The effects of climate change are already apparent from the severity of extreme weather events which pose a risk to our health, environment and economy. New South Wales must play its part to minimise the harm. While climate change is an environmental challenge, it poses an economic opportunity. The Government's climate change policies give certainty to businesses and investors who will help New South Wales build a new base of economic prosperity. The policies maximise opportunities from new technologies and industries. The amendments in the bill are necessary to ensure key pieces of New South Wales legislation keep pace with the energy transition so that we can support a clean energy future for the State. That transition is well underway.
Last year, the Government legislated its emissions reduction targets. It is delivering the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which is a 20-year plan to ensure that New South Wales households and businesses have the low-cost, reliable energy they need. As part of that plan, the Government is delivering five new renewable energy zones, which will be our modern-day power stations, bringing together wind, solar and storage projects to power our State. New transmission infrastructure is vital to the future of the State's electricity reliability as coal‑fired power stations retire. The renewable energy zones will deliver large amounts of new renewable energy to power our regions and cities. The Central‑West Orana Renewable Energy Zone is the first of those five zones, and the Government has made significant progress on it in just under a year.
In its first year, the Government signed a commitment deed with the network operator that will build and operate the transmission infrastructure for the renewable energy zone. As the Government moves forward with this and other projects, it is important that network operators are properly licensed to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the State's transmission network. That is critical to ensuring New South Wales has the reliable power it needs to take advantage of the economic opportunities that come from the transition to renewable energy. The amendments in the bill will ensure the continued implementation of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
The bill also ensures that electricity concessions for green hydrogen producers will be administered effectively. The concessions will support the creation of a green hydrogen industry in New South Wales, which will play a key role in decarbonising industry. We are amid an important transition in our energy markets. We are seeing that in the electricity market as we transition from fossil fuel to renewables and in the gas and fuel markets. Green hydrogen will support the decarbonisation of heavy industry and provide further export opportunities for New South Wales, supporting the State and, indeed, Australia to become a clean energy superpower.
As the State transitions, the New South Wales Government has an important role in ensuring that the regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose. The reforms are critical to supporting New South Wales to achieve its ambitious renewable energy and emissions reduction targets. The Minns Labor Government is making progress on its plans and will keep looking for opportunities to improve the delivery of the energy transition in New South Wales, because the opportunities for our State from renewable energy and green hydrogen are immense. I commend the bill to the House.
