Australia’s clean energy transition has taken two significant steps forward, with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) welcoming major reforms to the nation’s environmental laws and unveiling a new national framework to safeguard landholders when renewable projects reach their end of their life.
Together, the initiatives mark a decisive move toward a more accountable, transparent and environmentally responsible energy future – one that balances the imperatives of decarbonisation with long-term protection for nature and rural communities.
A modernised environmental framework
The Federal Government’s proposed reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) have been described by the CEC as a timely and balanced step toward modernising Australia’s environmental regulation.
Jackie Trad, CEO at Clean Energy Council, said the reforms have been long called for by the renewables industry, and will help provide greater clarity, consistency and confidence as Australia accelerates the rollout of clean energy projects to replace retiring coal-fired generation.
“The EPBC Act is in major need of an overhaul. This reform package strengthens environmental outcomes and ensures we can continue to deliver the electricity Australia relies on as coal-fired power stations exit the system,” Trad said.
Central to the proposed changes is a more pragmatic approach to environmental offsets. Under the new model, renewable developers could direct offset funding – traditionally spent on purchasing additional parcels of land – into tangible environmental programs within regional communities.
According to Trad, this shift would unlock billions of dollars in local benefit while achieving stronger ecological outcomes.
“These funds could support pest eradication, invasive species control, and fire-ant mitigation – work that currently costs local councils and state governments a small fortune – while contributing to broader nature restoration efforts,” she said.
The reforms also aim to simplify project approvals without compromising environmental rigour. By creating clearer guidelines and a more streamlined assessment process, the reforms are designed to provide both environmental certainty and investment confidence.
Trad credited Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt for leading an inclusive consultation process that engaged the energy, mining, agriculture and housing sectors.
“Accountability, oversight and strong regulation are at the heart of these reforms. They provide the certainty and confidence to continue delivering renewable energy projects that power Australian homes and businesses while safeguarding the environment for generations to come,” she said.
Industry-led safeguards for regional landholders
Just one day prior to the EPBC announcement, the CEC – together with the Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) – released a complementary initiative addressing a different but equally critical part of the clean energy lifecycle: end-of-life management.
The National Decommissioning and Financial Security Framework, developed by industry, sets out a consistent, transparent approach to ensuring renewable projects meet their long-term rehabilitation obligations.
Modelled on successful practices from the resources sector, the framework requires financial security – such as a bank guarantee, escrow account or surety bond – to be ring-fenced throughout a project’s life. If a project owner defaults, those funds are used to restore the site.
While renewable energy projects already have a strong track record – Australia has never recorded an abandoned wind or solar farm – the CEC says a formal national standard will strengthen community trust and reduce future uncertainty for landholders.
“Communities have told us they want assurance that landholders would not be left carrying the cost of removing wind and solar infrastructure at the end of a project’s life – and we have listened,” Trad said.
“This framework provides those protections while keeping projects viable and investment-friendly, ensuring we continue to power homes, economies and jobs,” she said.
The proposal introduces two stages of assurance:
- Pre-approval commitment – At the development stage, project proponents submit a Decommissioning Commitment Statement and Financial Security Plan outlining responsibilities, cost estimates and funding mechanisms.
- Phased financial contributions – Instead of large upfront payments, securities accrue progressively over the project’s operational life, aligning with revenue generation and asset maturity. This ensures funds are available without constraining early-stage investment.
The framework will now be presented to governments and communities for consultation, with the CEC and QREC advocating for its adoption as a best-practice national model.
Katie-Anne Mulder, CEO at QREC, said the collaborative process reflects the shared goal of ensuring renewable growth benefits everyone involved.
“Landholders and communities have told us they want certainty around end-of-life responsibilities, and this position provides a clear and consistent path forward,” Mulder said.
“With most projects still a decade or more from reaching the end of their operational life, we have time to get this right. By engaging early, we can ensure landowners never face unexpected costs while supporting ongoing investment across regional Australia,” she said.
A maturing industry
Together, the EPBC Act reforms and the Decommissioning Security Framework reflect an industry maturing beyond the build-phase of Australia’s energy transition – embracing a whole-of-life perspective that integrates environmental protection, community benefit and long-term accountability.
Both initiatives are underpinned by the same principle: progress and protection can coexist. For the Clean Energy Council, that balance is essential to maintaining public confidence and accelerating the path to net zero.
As Trad put it: “We cannot afford to wait another five years to secure this. These are the steps that will allow Australia to keep building the clean, reliable electricity system our future depends on – while leaving the land, and the communities who care for it, better than we found them.”