Antinuclear

Australian government is keeping the Renewable Energy Target unchanged

Breaking: Canberra endorses status quo on renewables target REneweconomy By Giles Parkinson   21 March 2013 The Australian government has announced it endorses the Climate Change Authority’s recommendation that the fixed target of 41,000GWh be retained for the country’s Renewable Energy Target.

The decision was a crucial one for the renewables industry, which said that $18 billion of investment in wind and solar farms would be under threat if the government acceded to a push by some major generators and energy utilities to dilute the target. The generators, and utilities such as Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia, fear reduced earnings from their coal and gas fired generation if more renewables are deployed.

However, federal climate change minister Greg Combet said the CCA review had concluded there would be no benefit to consumers in reducing the target, and had argued that in the interests of investment certainty the target should be retained.

The government also agreed to extend the timeline for reviews of the RET to four years, as recommended by the CCA – although this will require legislation that will be implemented later this year.

But it has decided not to pursue CCA recommendations relating to changes to the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme eligibility threshold, which had caused concern in the solar industry, particularly relating to commercial solar, and the operation of the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme Clearing House and reviewing the non-eligibility of native forest wood waste.

“This is a government that is very committed to renewable energy, and we will remain committed to it,” Combet told reporters. He said this is in contrast to the position of the Opposition, whose renewables policies “were a bit all over the place.”

The Abbott-led Opposition supports the RET, but has indicated it would reinstate the two-yearly review process, and be more sympathetic to calls from incumbent utilities and heavy industry to scale back the target……. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/breaking-canberra-endorses-status-quo-on-renewables-target-25106

March 21, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, politics