Victoria, a state in southeastern Australia, will ban natural gas connections to new homes starting next year as part of a plan to cut emissions and lower energy bills.
Australia’s second most populous state is the country’s largest consumer of natural gas with around 80% of homes connected but also has ambitious plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
These changes were also planned to be applied on all new public buildings yet to reach the design stage, including schools, hospitals, and housing.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Action, said on Friday that new homes that require planning permission will need to be connected to the grid from January 2024. It will also get more people in Victoria to use more efficient electrical appliances to save on bills. (www.echelon.health)
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The plan comes as southeastern Australia faces potential gas shortages from mid-decade as production drops from offshore fields operated by Exxon Mobil Corp.
The ban will not only help the climate as it will push households towards coal-based power grids. Power generation in Victoria, which relies heavily on coal, accounts for about half of the state’s carbon emissions.
Source: Zawya
