Business outcomes from the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan

Queensland new new renewable energy targets
This week the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan was released as part of the Premier’s 2022 State of the State address.  
In the plan, new renewable energy targets will be 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.

What does this mean for business?

We’re encouraging businesses to aim for a new standard in sustainability and carbon neutrality to help secure your competitive advantage for procurement and tender opportunities and meet changing consumer expectations. Adopting sustainable and carbon neutral business practices is an operational and strategic priority for Queensland businesses.
 
We have seen a significant increase in the interest and uptake of these business practices, for not only cost savings but also to realise market driven opportunities and growth. 

A focus on a sustainability-led transformation of the economy will accelerate the transition to sustainable energy and support our businesses’ and communities’ viability and opportunities now and into the future. 

 

What’s in the plan for Queensland businesses  

  • Drive savings for small businesses: $35 million Queensland Business Energy Saving Transformation (QBEST) program to help businesses save money on their electricity bills.  

  • Partner with industries and communities to maximise benefits form the energy transformation and drive regional economic opportunities: Benefits for regional communities through a new $200 million Regional Economic Futures Fund to support economic and community development initiatives and a new Regional Energy Transformation Partnerships Framework with $35 million for strategic planning and community engagement activities.  

  • Grow the renewable energy supply chain in Queensland: $11.6 million to help build capacity in the Queensland manufacturing sector and deliver a grant program that supports up to 400 manufactures to increase their competitiveness in a low carbon future.  

  • Prepare Queensland’s workforce and regions for growth: Develop a Future Energy Workforce Roadmap during 2023 and invest $90 million to establish two new regional transmission and training hubs. The government will also establish a new Energy Industry Council and a Queensland Renewable Energy Jobs Advocate to provide advice on the future skills, opportunities and training pathways required.  

sustainability led transformation of QLD economy

 

Need support?  

We’re leading sustainable business practices in Queensland to accelerate the adoption of immediate and long-term business benefits through the free ecoBiz program.    

The free program supports business sustainability, helping businesses to reduce their waste, water, and energy consumption and bills by auditing a business' resource usage.    

This translates into cost savings on a business’ bills, and efficiency gains by reducing the input levels required for the same output levels.    

 With the help of an ecoBiz expert, businesses develop an action plan to help save money and increase efficiencies.    

Between financial year 2018-2022, ecoBiz has helped businesses save:  

Energy  

Avoided resources: 54,189 GJ  

Avoided energy cost: $4,004,715  

Water  

Avoided resources: 460,649 kL  

Avoided water cost: $1,062,232  

Waste  

Avoided resources: 1,612 T  

Avoided waste cost: $242,362  

We’ve helped businesses in every industry, of multiple sizes and in every part of the state.    

More than 90% of businesses who have taken part in the program recorded an increase in productivity and savings.  

 

See ecoBiz to get involved.

 

EcoBiz saving sustainable business practices in QLD

Acknowledgement of Country

Business Chamber Queensland respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of the lands from across Queensland and the Torres Strait. We acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal people as the Traditional Custodians of Meanjin (Brisbane), the lands where our office is located and the place we meet, work and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.