US Solar company hopes for an RET deal that will specifically benefit them
US solar company hopes RET compromise will allow projects to go ahead, SMH October 3, 2014 Angela Macdonald-Smith US solar power company First Solar is optimistic a compromise will be hammered out on the Renewable Energy Target that will allow it to press ahead with up to $150 million of proposed projects in Australia, although other projects would still be delayed.
Jack Curtis, regional manager for Asia Pacific, said that 2-3 months ago the outlook for the RET legislation that supports the sector looked “more dire”, likely forcing an exit from Australia for the Arizona-based company.
But now he was more confident the legislation that supports the renewable industry would largely survive after the Coalition government distanced itself from the recommendations of the Warburton review into the RET…….
Government and Opposition spokespeople on energy and the environment met in Canberra on Wednesday for talks on the RET.
Opposition resources spokesman Gary Gray, who took part in the talks, signalled a compromise could be on the cards.
“There is a long-standing tradition of the government of the day and the opposition of the day finding common ground on renewable energy,” Mr Gray said on Thursday……
Both the Nyngan and Broken Hill plants being developed by First Solar and AGL are under construction and should come into operation next year.
First Solar is also planning a solar plant at Rio Tinto’s remote Weipa bauxite mine in Queensland, and it has similar ventures with a mining company and with a utility planned but not yet made public.
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