A Shorten Labor Government will unlock South Australia’s renewable energy potential – bringing in more investment and more jobs with the creation of a Renewable Energy Zone in the state.

Labor will make the Spencer Gulf region a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), encompassing the stretch from the north of Adelaide, along the Yorke Peninsula, and around the top of the Spencer Gulf down to Whyalla.

Labor announced last year we would establish a series of zones – based on an area’s renewable energy potential to bring a strategic approach to developing Australia’s renewable energy industry and delivering our 50 per cent renewable energy target.

These zones will help coordinate investment in generation, storage and transmission, and signal to investors the future sites for job-creating projects.

South Australia’s Renewable Energy Zone will support increased investment in renewables, which will create jobs and bring power prices and pollution down.

The Climate Institute estimates that these areas could support up to 1,300 new jobs in renewable energy for people in regional South Australia.

South Australia has led the country with renewable energy investment, but we still have huge untapped potential in the Spencer Gulf region.

Unlocking this potential will supply cheaper, cleaner, renewable energy, as well as providing a vital source of regional employment and reinvigorating towns around the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent regions.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has acknowledged the potential of these areas for wind, hydro and solar energy. Renewable energy development needs new transmission and other infrastructure investment to translate potential into real economic benefits.

That’s why designating the Spencer Gulf Region as a Renewable Energy Zone is so important.

It will mean the region will benefit from potential support from Labor’s $5 billion Energy Security and Modernisation fund. This is an integral part of Labor’s nationwide Energy Plan to deliver 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

Labor’s comprehensive Energy Plan will support the orderly transition to 50 per cent renewables by 2030, will deliver new transmission investment, and a just transition for affected communities and workers.

After six years, the Liberals still can’t deliver a coherent energy policy, with the Australian Energy Market Commission only this week again calling for “policy certainty integrating emissions reduction and energy policy”.

Only Labor has a plan to invest in renewable energy, modernise the electricity system, and bring power prices and pollution down.

The Liberals have nothing but a record of increasing prices and pollution and baseless scare campaigns.

This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for increased investment in renewables, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.

After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.