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Greenpeace energy campaigner Mark Wakeham said today:
“Given that the target replaces existing state renewable energy targets it will do little to deliver new renewable energy projects. The target is likely to ensure that around 15% of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable energy by 2020- similar to what would be delivered by existing state renewable energy targets. Environment groups are seeking a 25% renewable energy target from all political parties.”
“Greenpeace is also concerned that the target supports both renewable energy, which has zero emissions, and so-called ‘clean coal’ which may have substantial emissions. However the reality is that the target is likely to be dominated by renewable energy as low emissions coal projects don’t currently exist.”
“The one positive is that the announcement signals a policy change by the Coalition. Until now the Federal Government has been threatening to scrap existing renewable energy targets when it introduces its emissions trading scheme. Now, regardless of the outcome of the Federal election, there will be some support for renewable energy in place. A single national scheme also makes most sense to support the renewable energy industry”
“While this project will not deliver new renewable energy projects, perhaps it will lead to a policy race with both the Coalition and the ALP competing with each other to have the best renewable energy policies”.
“Given that the target replaces existing state renewable energy targets it will do little to deliver new renewable energy projects. The target is likely to ensure that around 15% of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable energy by 2020- similar to what would be delivered by existing state renewable energy targets. Environment groups are seeking a 25% renewable energy target from all political parties.”
“Greenpeace is also concerned that the target supports both renewable energy, which has zero emissions, and so-called ‘clean coal’ which may have substantial emissions. However the reality is that the target is likely to be dominated by renewable energy as low emissions coal projects don’t currently exist.”
“The one positive is that the announcement signals a policy change by the Coalition. Until now the Federal Government has been threatening to scrap existing renewable energy targets when it introduces its emissions trading scheme. Now, regardless of the outcome of the Federal election, there will be some support for renewable energy in place. A single national scheme also makes most sense to support the renewable energy industry”
“While this project will not deliver new renewable energy projects, perhaps it will lead to a policy race with both the Coalition and the ALP competing with each other to have the best renewable energy policies”.
Related Reports
- The Coalition’s Clean Energy Target: What it means
September 24, 2007
Notes to Editor
Note: The Coalition’s target is 30,000 GWh. As the Government’s own fact sheet says: “This target is equivalent to the sum total of all existing and planned targets under Commonwealth, state and territory renewable and low emissions energy target schemes.”[1] That is the target will not deliver any projects that would not have already been delivered by existing State schemes and targets.
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