Download.pdf

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) submitted feedback on the proposed cost recovery under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Key points include:
1) Fee increases may be challenging for renewable energy projects, and the CEC suggests increasing Departmental budgetary allocations instead of passing costs to projects.
2) The CEC proposes reducing new fees for renewable energy projects, as they provide a public benefit and contribute to reducing climate change impacts.
3) The CEC welcomes the introduction of fee deferrals but suggests allowing deferrals until project commencement, not just until the EPBC Act referral decision.
4) The CEC recommends grandfathering provisions to exempt current and pre-lodgement projects from new fees and considering a staged introduction of fee increases.
5) The CEC does not support the proposed complexity matrix due to its subjective nature and suggests a more transparent approach.
6) The CEC seeks to ensure offshore wind projects are not paying dual costs under different assessment frameworks.