Antinuclear

Tortuous progress between Labor and Coalition on deal about Renewable Energy Target

Labor and Coalition inch towards deal on renewable energy target   Guardian, Lenore Taylor, 15 Mar 15 Opposition leader Bill Shorten talks up the urgency of a deal as cabinet meets to consider report on the lack of progress on reaching an agreement The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, has convened a meeting of the renewable energy industry on Monday in an apparent attempt to gather support to put a compromise position to the Abbott government over the renewable energy target.

Also on Monday, cabinet will discuss a joint letter from the environment minister,Greg Hunt, and the industry minister, Ian Macfarlane – effectively an update on the lack of progress in the RET negotiations…….

Renewable industry sources expect Shorten will use the meeting to try to reach an agreed position on a compromise to put to the government – higher than its current 31,000-gigawatt- hour stance but lower than Labor’s previous position. A compromise could possibly be around 34,000 gigawatt hours.

The chief executive of the clean energy council, Kane Thornton, said the government’s current position was “clearly unacceptable to industry”.

Shorten has invited industry, union and renewable energy representatives to his Monday summit.

As well as the overall target, industry has been urging the government to deal with a glut of renewable energy certificates in the market, perhaps by extending the end date of the scheme. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/15/labor-and-coalition-inch-towards-deal-on-renewable-energy-target

March 16, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News