Category: RET Road Trip

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch4 Comments

Warburton Renewable Energy Target Review “out of touch” and a disaster for jobs

Leigh Ewbank

10632612_945476835479249_7613237376567927510_nThe Abbott government has just released the Warburton review of the Renewable Energy Target. The report ignores the aspirations of Australians and would be a disaster for jobs and investment.

The Warburton Review has made two key recommendations that will devastate Australia’s renewable energy sector. The Review recommends the Abbott government:

  1. Limit the Renewable Energy Target to new entrants – which is effective to the immediate abolition of the scheme.
  2. Drastically cut the fixed 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target and set yearly targets based on forecast electricity demand – which will kill the renewable energy sector through uncertainty.

This sham review recommends the Abbott government cut the Renewable Energy Target by up to 100 per cent.

Australians will be shocked that there are no options to increase the RET, only options to axe it.

The Warburton Review’s recommendations will kill off thousands of jobs and billions worth of investment in the Australian economy.

Research commissioned by the Clean Energy Council shows the 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target would unleash $14.5 billion worth of investment and create more than 18,000 jobs.

The renewable energy sector promises thousands of jobs at a time when national unemployment has hit a 12-year high. The Warburton review’s recommendations amount to economic vandalism. Continue reading “Warburton Renewable Energy Target Review “out of touch” and a disaster for jobs”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, community support for windfarms, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road TripLeave a comment

Cut to renewables target will hit local services, warns Ararat editorial

Leigh Ewbank
Mayors Hooper and Erwin in Ararat
Mayors Paul Hooper and Kevin Erwin joined local Yes 2 Renewables supporters at the site of the proposed Ararat wind farm in May, 2014.

Local government leadership on the Renewable Energy Target in western Victoria has prompted a leading regional paper to warn of cuts to the Renewable Energy Target in an editorial.

Yes 2 Renewables readers will be aware of the strong pro-RET position taken by mayors Paul Hooper (Ararat Rural City) and Kevin Erwin (Northern Grampians), whom we met in May while on our RET Road Trip. The pair have joined forces with the Pyrenees Shire Council to pen a letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, calling on the 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target to be retained.

The Ararat Advertiser has thrown its’ weight behind the efforts of the Ararat, Northern Grampians, and Pyrenees mayors. In an editorial published this week, the paper warns of the local impacts of a weakened Renewable Energy Target:

Continue reading “Cut to renewables target will hit local services, warns Ararat editorial”

#Auspol, #SpringSt, Abbott Government, Napthine Government, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, victoria, Victorian CoalitionLeave a comment

‘Protect the RET’, write Western Vic councillors to PM

Leigh Ewbank

Featured Image -- 8638The mayors of Ararat, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees shires will write to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, calling for the 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target to be retained.

The Mayors from western Victoria fear a weakened Renewable Energy Target will kill off proposed wind farms in the region. For local councillors, that means jobs, investment, drought-proof income for farmers and rates are on the line.

Emma D’Agostino reports for The Wimmera Mail Times:

Northern Grampians Shire Council will also help draft a letter to Mr Abbott about the importance of wind farms planned for Northern Grampians, Ararat and Pyrenees municipalities.

Cr Erwin said the proposed wind farms were at risk if the Renewable Energy Target was wound back.

“The wind farms at Crowlands, Ararat, Bulgana and Stockyard Hill are potentially a $1.68-billion investment in our region that will provide $1.3 million a year in rates to our councils, $300,000 a year to community groups and create 60 direct and 74 indirect ongoing jobs,” he said.

The opportunities of renewable energy in western Victoria are not news to Yes 2 Renewables. We visited Ararat in May as part of our RET Road Trip.  Continue reading “‘Protect the RET’, write Western Vic councillors to PM”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Anglesea, Napthine Government, Policy Watch, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, Wind workers3 Comments

RET Road Trip finds strong support for renewables, no confidence in Warburton Review

Leigh Ewbank
20140619_133603
Y2R’s Shaun Murray and Leigh Ewbank take the RET Road Trip findings to Parliament House.

Clive Palmer’s surprise climate manoeuvre has sent a shockwave through the Abbott government’s policy agenda. After meeting with former US vice president Al Gore in the Parliament yesterday, Mr Palmer has stated his party’s support for the Renewable Energy Target, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and the independent Climate Change Authority.

This changed political landscape gives Prime Minister Tony Abbott a reason to back away from an anti-renewable energy agenda. Originally intended to rationalise cutting the Renewable Energy Target, the Warburton review is now the key to achieving this policy shift.

The Renewable Energy Target is driving a national transition to renewable energy. All available public polling shows Australians endorse this vision, with a recent Climate Institute poll finding 72 per cent support to retain or increase the renewables target.

A weakened Renewable Energy Target threatens peoples’ jobs, health, and aspirations; billions of dollars worth of investment in a vital emerging industry; and importantly, an effective climate change mitigation tool. When we consider these impacts, the lack of public support for cutting the target comes as no surprise.

Over the course of two months, Friends of the Earth undertook a fact-finding RET Road Trip. We travelled over two thousand kilometres to speak with eight communities who have benefitted from renewable energy or have been affected by fossil fuel pollution. We did this to get a real understanding of the impacts of energy policy.

The RET Road Trip uncovered strong public support for the 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target.  Continue reading “RET Road Trip finds strong support for renewables, no confidence in Warburton Review”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Renewable Energy Target, renewables & employment, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, Wind Farm Benefits, Wind workers7 Comments

RET Road Trip 8: Renewables Energy Target creates jobs, investment on Canberra’s doorstep

Leigh Ewbank

Capital GroupshotFriends of the Earth wrapped up its fact-finding RET Review Road Trip at the Capital wind farm on Thursday June 19—right on Canberra’s doorstep.

We’ve travelled over two thousand kilometres to speak with communities who have benefitted from renewable energy or have been affected by fossil fuel pollution.

When it comes to a Australia’s energy future, the communities we spoke with want more renewable energy. They want politicians to support the existing 41-terawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target.

Continue reading “RET Road Trip 8: Renewables Energy Target creates jobs, investment on Canberra’s doorstep”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Renewable Energy Target, renewables & employment, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, Solar Energy, solar hot water, Solar PV, The Coalition7 Comments

RET Road Trip #7 – Blue seats and renewable energy

Leigh Ewbank

Group Brighton

Published at Renew Economy.

In the last week of May, Friends of the Earth visited solar homeowners in affluent bayside suburb of Brighton East.

We had previously visited Victoria’s leading solar suburbs of Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook. Our trip to Brighton East was to get a sense of what people in a long-standing Liberal seat think of the Warbuton Review and Australia’s energy future.

It turns out that there isn’t really any difference between the two. Like the residents of Melbourne’s western suburbs, the people we spoke with in the seat of Goldstein – the seat held by senior cabinet minister, Andrew Robb – see renewables as the future. The people we spoke with don’t want politicians to weaken the Renewable Energy Target.

Upon arriving at the Coats household in Brighton East we were presented with the inverter and a quick briefing on how much electricity the rooftop solar set up had produced to date.

InverterThe Coats’ 1.5kW solar energy system has made the home a suburban a clean energy power station. For the past five years, it has covered all of the household’s electricity needs.

“It’s fantastic knowing that we never have to worry about another electricity bill. In fact, our energy company owes us,” said Mrs Coats. “It also gives us a lot of pleasure to know that we’re producing our own clean energy and feeding it back into the grid for other people to use.”

Every solar homeowner I meet has an immense pride about their solar system. There’s a sense of achievement in generating your own energy and acting to address climate change. And, let’s not forget the power bill that is now perpetually in credit.

There are an estimated 2,792 solar homes in the seat of Goldstein. Solar has delivered $1.56 million worth of savings on power bills to those who have panels. In the wake of the Victorian government’s decision to reduce the feed-in tariff for solar, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) is the next best support mechanism for those with solar aspirations. Continue reading “RET Road Trip #7 – Blue seats and renewable energy”

#Auspol, #SpringSt, Abbott Government, Anglesea, coal vs renewables, health impacts, Napthine Government, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, The Coalition2 Comments

RET Road Trip #6 – Special treatment for fossil fuels in Anglesea

Leigh Ewbank

On May 22, Friends of the Earth visited Anglesea for the sixth leg of the RET Road Trip. The seaside town of Anglesea is best known for its surf and summer vacations. What’s lesser known is that Anglesea is home … Continue reading RET Road Trip #6 – Special treatment for fossil fuels in Anglesea

#Auspol, Abbott Government, renewable energy, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, Solar Energy, solar hot water, Solar PV1 Comment

RET Road Trip #5 – Warburton review threatens solar future

Leigh Ewbank
RRRT6 group shot
Yes 2 Renewables are out meeting with Australians to discuss how renewables are benefitting them – Why isn’t Warbo?

Published at Renew Economy.

On Friday May 16, Friends of the Earth’s fact-finding RET Review Road Trip visited Victoria’s leading solar suburbs—Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and Point Cook.

What did we find? In a nutshell: The suburbs get it. Solar is viewed as an indispensible new technology that is cutting power bills.

The Renewable Energy Target and other state-based incentives have helped homeowners in Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and Point Cook install a 8,052 solar photovoltaic systems and 14,213 solar hot water systems on their roofs.

One such homeowner is Coralee Klement, a retiree and Werribee resident. Coralee’s 8.3kW solar energy system has made the suburban home clean energy power station. It currently covers all of her energy bills, except for a small gas bill in winter.

“We couldn’t afford not to do it,” Carolee told us. “Electricity bills were getting too expensive. Even in winter we’re in credit with the energy company.”

“We went solar as an investment,” explains Ms Klement. “My super was getting a limited return and dwindling because of fees. The solar system has delivered a good return on investment as well as the environmental benefit to the community.”

RRRT6 Coralee, Chris, panels
Carolee explains to her neighbour how rooftop solar has cut her power bill.

The rooftop solar revolution has seen Australians install a massive 3.2 gigawatts of solar power spread over 1.3 millions homes. More than 3 million people now live in a home that generates clean electricity. If you’re looking for a metric for public support for the Renewable Energy target, this is it.

The solar suburbs have set their sights high. They have ambitions beyond intermittent generation. Solar homeowners like Carolee see the credit on their power bill and want to use it to save money on transport fuel costs.

“Once battery storage is available we’d voluntarily take ourselves off grid,” said Carolee. “We’d like to get an electric car one day to do away with the petrol costs.”

It’s this ambition that governments ignore at their peril. Continue reading “RET Road Trip #5 – Warburton review threatens solar future”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, Wind Farm Benefits, Wind workers3 Comments

RET Road Trip #4 – Wind farms keep council budgets healthy

Leigh Ewbank
Mayors Hooper and Erwin in Ararat
Local mayors join Yes 2 Renewables supporters to discuss the importance of the Renewable Energy Target and wind farms.

Published at Renew Economy. 

On Tuesday May 6, Friends of the Earth’s fact-finding RET Review Road Trip visited Ararat in western Victoria.

By all accounts, Ararat is a community that proudly supports the wind energy sector. It is home to Pacific Hydro’s Challicum Hills wind farm which has been operating since 2003. Councillor Gwenda Allgood (recipient of our Renewable Energy Champion award) lauds the company for their exceptional community engagement. Add to this the drought-proof income for farmers who host turbines, and strong local support for wind energy comes as no surprise.

Yet there was another story we wanted to investigate in Ararat. With all the focus on budgets, we travelled to the region to find out from local politicians about how wind energy helps to keep the municipal budget in good health. Continue reading “RET Road Trip #4 – Wind farms keep council budgets healthy”

#Auspol, Abbott Government, Keppel Prince, Napthine Government, Regional Development, renewable energy, Renewable Energy Target, RET Road Trip, RET Watch, wave power, Wind Energy, Wind Farm Benefits, Wind workers2 Comments

RET Road Trip #3: Portland’s renewable energy economy

Leigh Ewbank
RET review chair, Dick Warburton, refused our invite to meet Portland's wind workers, so we brought Where's Warbo along!
RET review chair, Dick Warburton, refused our invite to meet Portland’s wind workers, so we brought Where’s Warbo along!

This article was published at Renew Economy. 

On Wednesday April 23, Friends of the Earth brought its fact-finding RET Review Road Trip to Portland, Victoria.

Previous stops in visited Hepburn/Daylesford and Morwell, provided an insight into community support for renewable energy and the costs of polluting coal energy. Our trip to Victoria’s blustery southwest coast allowed us to investigate the ways in which renewable energy can provide a platform for economic development.

With its vast wind resource, southwest Victoria is among Australia’s most important renewable energy regions.

The area is home to Pacific Hydro’s Portland Wind Energy Project. The four-stage project will see 195MW worth of generation spread over five sites. Once completed the wind energy project will generate enough electricity to power 125,000 homes (a city the size of Geelong).

Drawing on Portland’s manufacturing base and engineering expertise and generating income for turbine hosts and the community, wind energy is an engine for economic activity for Victoria’s southwest.

Portland’s Keppel Prince Engineering is at the centre of the action. Continue reading “RET Road Trip #3: Portland’s renewable energy economy”