Antinuclear

Need to educate public and politicians on the facts of the Renewable Energy Target

What You Can Do About Australia’s Renewable Energy Target,Energy Collective,  February 16, 2014 “…….Step 8 is to repeatedly focus on this one, simple, crucial fact courtesy of the AEMC:

The SRES is virtually the only scheme that supports PV and in 2013/2014 adds around $0.005 to the average cost of electricity (assuming $0.27kWh ave) and is already declining.  Therefore, removing or changing the SRES will have absolutely no meaningful impact on the price of electricity but will have an enormous impact on one of the fastest growth industries in the country.

Educate politicians.

Motivate consumers.

Support your advocates.

The RET and SRES Fact Pack:

I have compiled all the great facts that many people and organisations have put together below and would like to acknowledge the great work that these groups are doing on your behalf. The RAA, ASC, CEC, Solar Citizens, the APVI, SEA and many more are working tirelessly behind the scenes for you.

General Facts

• The Renewable Energy Target is a mechanism that has demonstrated it works and works well
• The Abbott Government went to the election with a very clear commitment to maintaining the Renewable Energy Targe
• The RET was comprehensively reviewed in December 2012.
• It has encouraged millions of Australians to invest in new energy infrastructure worth billions of dollars
• The SRES scheme is elegant and self-adjusting. If demand goes too high, SRES prices fall and the market slows down.
• the SRES’ impact on electricity bills declined last year and is set to continue to decline
• The most recent Roy Morgan Polls show that 86% of Australians and very concerned about climate change. Numerous surveys over several years have shown that Australians want more renewable energy
• The RET is already a functioning program which is very low-cost to consumers and on track to deliver on promised emissions reduction targets. However, if investor confidence is eroded by changing the RET we will be far less likely to meet the targets

Jobs

• With the economy in transition, it is the right time to think about the jobs of the future. The Renewable Energy Target has already helped create 25,000 jobs (up to 18,000 in the solar industry) and we are only half way to meeting the target.
• Our leading trading partners – the US, China, Japan, South Korea – are all investing heavily in solar and renewable energy. Last year, China installed more solar than any other country in history. The trend line is clear, and that represents the jobs of the future.
• Axing the Renewable Energy Target would have a diabolical impact on Australia’s solar industry – almost 7,000 jobs lost or foregone in just four years. Not only would people lose their jobs, but future jobs would not be created. These jobs will primarily be in outer metropolitan areas and in regional Australia, because that is where most solar is installed.
• The impact would be felt immediately – 2,000 jobs lost in the short-term.
• Cutting the Renewable Energy Target would also be disastrous – 600 jobs lost next year alone.
• Jobs would be lost right around the country, but particularly in the outer suburbs of our cities and in regional Australia, because that’s where most people are installing solar.
• If we retain the RET in its current form, we will see job growth – 8,000 jobs created over the next four years.
• The Renewable Energy Target has helped 5 million Australians cut their power bills by investing in solar PV and SHW.
• In 2013, 18,000 Australians worked in the solar industry through 4,500 businesses.
• The real cost of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Target – which helps families invest in solar – is just $1.90 out of an average $500 quarterly power bill.
• Solar has shown its great strength during the recent heat waves. If we didn’t have solar, we would have seen black outs.
• Do I fear for my job? Yes I do, but more importantly, I fear for my employees, for my colleagues, for my friends and I despair that some Australians may not get to invest in solar.

Costs

• The Prime Minister has talked a lot about the cost of the Renewable Energy Target, but the RET is a very small contributor to the cost of electricity.
• In 2013/2014 the SRES adds around $0.005 to the average cost of electricity (assuming $0.27kWh ave) and is already declining
• The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme contributes just 1.3% to a power bill ($6.50 out of an average $500 quarterly bill). If you factor in solar’s contribution to the reduction in the wholesale cost of electricity, the cost is just 0.38%. That’s $1.90 out of a $500 power bill.
• The RET has zero cost to the Federal Budget.

Subsidies

• Many are arguing that solar should not get subsidies because it is unfair. The fossil fuel industry in Australia gets subsidies worth more than $10Billion per annum.
• Old energy companies protecting their own interests are attacking the Renewable Energy Target because they’re scared of the competition posed by clean energy.
• Owners of traditional power stations are complete hypocrites for complaining about support for renewable energy when you consider the subsidies their facilities have received in the past and in some cases continue to receive

March 3, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy