The State Government have introduced legislation aimed at speeding up the delivery of key renewable energy projects across NSW, as coal‑fired power stations continue to exit the system.
The proposed Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 would allow Energy Minister Penny Sharpe to identify the highest‑priority projects in the planning system and streamline their approval process. The changes are designed to accelerate renewable generation, storage and transmission infrastructure.
The government says the reforms will not remove any environmental or community assessment requirements, with developers still required to meet all planning, environmental and consultation obligations. Priority projects would also need to demonstrate best practice engagement with landholders and communities, particularly in regional NSW.
Renewable energy currently supplies about 36 per cent of NSW’s annual electricity needs, with multiple periods over summer seeing renewables provide more than 80 per cent of power. The bill is intended to support further growth and ensure energy reliability for homes, industry and future economic development.
The legislation also supports benefit‑sharing guidelines for communities hosting renewable projects. More than 180 million dollars in benefits has been committed to communities since the guidelines were introduced, alongside additional renewable energy zone funding coordinated by EnergyCo.
