Labor wants to put another $75 million towards its interest-free loan scheme for zero-emission upgrades across Canberra households and has committed to delivering another large battery for the city's energy grid.
Labor said it would deliver another 250-megawatt utility scale battery in the ACT in the next term of government, either through a revenue share or virtual storage agreement with a private provider.
The battery would generate revenue for the ACT, support reliable electricity for the territory and put downward pressure on power bills, and reduce the need for fossil fuels in the national electricity market, Labor said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Labor had made clear commitments on the large scale and at a household level to drive action on climate change.
"These are projects that support our journey to net zero emissions, support households with cost-of-living pressures and ensure the creation of more local jobs in the energy sector in the ACT," Mr Barr said.
"In this election. we've been very clear that we will continue these nation-leading programs, taking no backward steps on climate action."
Mr Barr said expanding the battery storage capacity in the ACT was sensible policy.
"We know that large scale battery storage and household battery storage is the way of the future," he said.
"It's very important for the stability of our energy network, and to store all of that renewable energy, particularly that is generated during the middle of the day, so that it can be utilised within the national energy market over the times of peak demand."
In April 2023, the ACT government announced Eku Energy would spend up to $400 million building a 250-megawatt battery storage facility in Canberra.
The battery could deliver power on a single charge to meet the daily energy use of 23,400 households.
The government touted an "innovative" revenue-sharing arrangement, whereby it paid Eku Energy fixed quarterly payments over 15 years in exchange for a "consequential share" of the revenue the battery generated.
The project is part of the Canberra's big battery commitment, which ACT Labor made before the 2020 election.
Mr Barr on Monday said the sustainable household scheme was crucial to allowing homeowners to transition away from gas appliances.
More than one in 10 Canberra households were already participating in the scheme, he said. The scheme opened for applications in September 2021, with eligibility for solar panels tightened in 2023.
Mr Barr said consumers were moving away from gas appliances, despite the Canberra Liberals committing to overturn forthcoming bans on household gas.
"Over time, as old gas appliances reach end of life, they're replacing them with new electric appliances; early adopters are moving quicker, obviously," he said.
"But to revert back to gas in the way that the Canberra Liberals are proposing really is a significant backward step in our journey towards a net-zero Canberra."
The ACT Greens also talked up their climate agenda on Monday, saying Liberal and Labor governments had not taken the strong action needed on climate change.
"Labor federally has been approving new coal mines, making the problem worse. Local Labor have been completely silent on the issue of new fossil fuel projects, while the Canberra Liberals have said they would reverse the ACT's ban on new gas connections," Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said.
"This lack of action means that we are living in the climate crisis right now - and this will have the greatest impact on our community's young people."
