Tony Abbott appoints climate sceptic to review of Renewable Energy Target

An earlier review of the renewables target by the Authority in 2012 found it should not be changed because it would hurt investor confidence in the sector. The Authority also recommended the next review of the target be pushed back to 2016

The renewable energy industry say billions of dollars in investment will be significantly hurt if the target is radically altered.

Climate sceptic Dick Warburton to head Tony Abbott review into renewable energy target SMH Tom Arup 18 Feb 14 Environment editor, The Age The Abbott government has launched a formal review of Australia’s 20 per cent renewable energy target, choosing senior business figure and climate change sceptic Dick Warburton to head it.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Energy Minister Ian Macfarlane launched the review on Monday afternoon, saying it would focus on the target’s impacts on electricity prices, the renewable energy sector, manufacturing and households……

The target, established under the Howard government and expanded under Labor, mandates that at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources by 2020. …..

The renewable energy industry say billions of dollars in investment will be significantly hurt if the target is radically altered. And they say rather than lowering power bills, cutting the target will mean more reliance on increasingly more expensive natural gas.

Both Mr Hunt and Mr Macfarlane emphasised a target review was due in legislation this year. The review was to be carried out by the independent Climate Change Authority, although the government is seeking to disband the body alongside the carbon tax.

The Abbott government’s renewable energy target review will be carried out by a four-person panel headed by former Reserve Bank board member Mr Warburton.

A self-declared climate change sceptic, Mr Waburton told Fairfax Media on Monday that he still maintained those views……..

In 2011 Mr Warburton co-authored a two part-article in the conservative journal Quadrant called “The Intelligent Voter’s Guide to Global Warming”, which questioned the findings of mainstream science about how much global warming would be caused by man-made emissions.

Chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator Matt Zema, former chief executive of Verve Energy, Shirley In’t Veld, and former head of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences, Dr Brian Fisher, will also be on the review team, which is due to report its findings to the Prime Minister’s department by mid-year.

The renewable energy sector has been concerned that the target is about to be slashed or even dumped following several negative comments by Prime Minister Tony Abbott about its impact on electricity prices….

Greens leader Christine Milne said the review was a thinly veiled attack on solar and wind energy in favour of coal.

‘‘Climate denier Dick Warburton is one of the nation’s chief opponents to carbon pricing and effective global warming policy,’’ she said.

Climate Institute chief executive, John Connor, said contrary to many claims the cost of the renewable energy target was cheap – about $1 a week for the average household – and if changed the emissions intensive coal-fired generators would be a major beneficiary……..http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/climate-sceptic-dick-warburton-to-head-tony-abbott-review-into-renewable-energy-target-20140217-32vve.html