Beyond Zero Emissions has just released a plan they say is:
….nation building, transformative projects that can upgrade our economy, modernise our industry, reskill our workforce and deliver a bright and vibrant future – economically and socially.
Here are the projects and jobs that could be created:
- Fast-track renewable energy & transmission 100,000 – 150,000
- Modernising and expanding Australian manufacturing 220,000 – 300,000
- Recycling – 100% recovery of materials 25,000 – 35,000
- Land restoration and carbon farming 40,000 – 60,000
- 3 million ‘Zero Energy Bill’ buildings 320,000 – 400,000
- 100% Renewable mining 10,000 – 30,000
- Electrified transportation 50,000 – 100,000
- Community led initiatives > 100,000
The plan is put together by a panel that includes Ross Garnaut, Malcolm Turnbull and Richard Denniss.
It’s a thorough piece of work backed by good evidence and significant interest in investing but the authors warn that unless investors are sent an unequivocal signal that Australia supports large scale renewables, many of these projects won’t get off the ground.
We particularly like their proposal on manufacturing wind turbines – a project that would quickly generate jobs for mostly semi-skilled workers and utilize closed down factories, as has happened in part of the old Ford factory in Geelong..
Most of the cost of wind farm development relates to the purchase of wind turbines. Turbine manufacture is labour-intensive, requiring 150 people to make the main components of 100 MW wind farm. Large turbine manufacturers prefer to make components locally once a market reaches sufficient size.
Australia currently has little capacity to manufacture wind turbines, so we miss out on much of the profit and employment opportunities from wind farm developments. By bringing wind manufacturing on-shore, we could create over 9,000 new positions, many of which would be factory jobs with medium to low skills requirements.
Read more here.