Colin Mugglestone has been named Chair of the expert panel who will lead the public inquiry into establishing Queensland’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.
Queenland’s Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark Bailey and Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles announced the make-up of the expert renewable energy taskforce that will plan how to adopt the target on Wednesday (27 January).
Mr Bailey said the expert panel would be chaired by Mr Mugglestone, a investment banker, engineer, and experienced business executive who retired from Macquarie Capital in 2014 with more than 30 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector, working on projects throughout Australia, the UK, South East Asia and Norway.
Mr Mugglestone will be joined by prominent climate change and clean energy advisor Allison Warburton; Paul Meredith, a physics professor and Director of UQ Solar; CEO of ACIl Allen Consulting Paul Hyslop; and Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie.
“This panel deliberately has a strong business and commercial focus, as well as the renewable energy sector, because we’re serious about the commercial opportunities available in this area for Queensland,” added Minister Bailey. “We’re focused on delivering jobs of the future by acting on climate change.”
Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the panel will lead a public inquiry to determine how the adoption of a renewable energy target and other polices can drive the development of a renewable energy economy for Queensland.
“Panel members have been chosen from an outstanding field of high quality candidates and I congratulate them on their appointment. They have been chosen for their expertise in renewable energy, climate change, energy market policy and regulation, and public policy,” he said.
As part of the public inquiry, the taskforce will undertake a comprehensive public consultation program, allowing Queenslanders to have their say on the proposed target. It will undertake public forums across the state to engage with consumer groups, households, peak energy industry bodies, energy businesses and unions.
The panel is expect to deliver a final report to the government towards the end of the year.