While Labor’s backing of the Clean Energy Council’s Renewable Energy Target compromise has been welcomed by some, for others it’s still very much a bum deal.
The Clean Energy Council proposal is for a large-scale renewable energy target of 33,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2020, plus various other conditions including protection for support for residential and commercial solar panel arrays. The legislated target was for 41,000 GWh, which at the time of legislation passing was estimated to be 20% of energy consumption in Australia in 2020.
Labor has already committed to the compromise target being a minimum that it will boost if it is voted back into office at the next election.
The Australian Solar Council is severely disappointed that things have come to this.
“The Abbott Government has blackmailed the renewable energy industry and the Opposition into accepting a massive cut in the Renewable Energy Target”, said John Grimes, the Council’s Chief Executive.
“A deal at 33,500 gigawatt hours will not deliver for large-scale solar.”
Mr. Grimes said the government would be content with allowing the renewable energy industry collapse, taking billions of dollars of potential investment and over 10,000 jobs with it.
Even if the compromise should be accepted by the Abbott Government, the Australian Solar Council will not rest.
“Unlike those who oppose renewables the Australian Solar Council is forward looking and will continue to support and advocate for the more than 90% of Australians who want more solar not less,” said Mr. Grimes.
“That’s why we will campaign fiercely between now and the next election to get a bi-partisan commitment to a renewable energy target of 50% by 2030 which is needed to transform our energy system.”
The Greens are not happy with the compromise either.
“We need an Opposition that will actually oppose bad decisions and stop the government’s attacks on renewables. We defended Medicare and universities that way – why not the Renewable Energy Target?” said Greens leader Senator Christine Milne.
As for the compromise being accepted, it seems at this point the Government is still digging its heels in; perhaps believing that since the industry has blinked before, it may blink again.
“We can get a deal the day they agree to 32,000 gigawatt hours, and in the meantime, I’m continuing my negotiations with the Senate crossbench, which I’m very confident that I’ll conclude in the next two or three weeks,” said Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane.
