A deal to reduce the Renewable Energy Target 20% appears to have been struck by the Federal government and opposition, with cross-bench Senators. The reduction from 41000 gigawatt-hours in 2020, to only 33000GWh, will unfortunately include wood-waste burners as eligible … Continue reading RET Watch: Australia takes one step backward with RET deal…
The Renewable Energy Target is the central plank of national renewable energy policy. The successful scheme is driving the transformation of Australia’s energy sector while creating jobs and investment. Friends of the Earth’s campaigns coordinator, Cam Walker, went into bat … Continue reading RET Watch: Target a matter of urgency
As Yes 2 Renewables coordinator, nothing fires me up more than job losses. Too many good people have been retrenched due to the Abbott government’s prolonged attack on the national Renewable Energy Target. People from welders and metal workers, to engineers and planning … Continue reading RET Watch: Abbott’s attack on renewables is costing jobs
The Abbott government has become more isolated with its attack on renewables. AGL Energy’s Greenhouse Gas Policy, released on Friday 17 April, expresses the company’s commitment to invest in renewable energy and retire coal power plants. AGL’s greenhouse gas policy … Continue reading RET Watch: Abbott govt looking in the wrong direction on energy
As the policking around the Renewable Energy Target continues in Canberra, communities in regional Victoria are standing up for the scheme. The Moorabool Environment Group, based east of Ballarat, has joined citizens in central Victoria expressing concern over PM Tony Abbott’s attack on renewables. … Continue reading RET WATCH: Moorabool Environment Group concerned by Abbott’s attack on renewables
Yes 2 Renewables’ good friends in central Victoria, the BEAM-Mitchell Environment Group, have thrown their weight behind the national Renewable Energy Target as the Abbott government seeks a deal with crossbench senators to wind back the popular scheme. The following letter by BEAM … Continue reading RET WATCH: BEAM-Mitchell Environment Group back renewables target
Friends of the Earth’s campaigns coordinator, Cam Walker, has chimed in to the Renewable Energy Target debate with a letter published in The Border Mail. TONY Abbott says his government is “inching closer” to a deal on the renewable energy target “Renewed … Continue reading RET WATCH: Target has big impact
Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten has entered the Renewable Energy Target debate. In today’s Australian Financial Review, Mr Shorten called on the Abbott government to “ditch” the Warburton review and said any compromise on the scheme would be on the Labor party’s terms.
“If the Prime Minister wants to work with Labor to fix the mess he has created, he first has to rule out the recommendations in the Warburton review,” Mr Shorten said.
“That’s job one for Tony Abbott. This is the Prime Minister’s report with the industry and job-decimating recommendations he wanted. It belongs in the bin.”
“They have wrecked the political consensus, they have smashed business and investor confidence, and thousands of jobs are now on the line.”
According to Phillip Coorey’s AFR report, Labor would back the retention of the small-scale solar component of the Renewable Energy Target, while floating the idea of maintaining but deferring the 41-terawatt-hour large-scale target.
Friends of the Earth has welcomed aspects of Labor’s comments on the Renewable Energy Target.
We welcome Labor’s call for the Warburton Review to be scrapped and the pledge to support the small-scale scheme. However, we have concerns over the ALP’s willingness to compromise on the large-scale target.
Continue reading “RET Watch: Labor must hold firm on the Renewable Energy Target”
The 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:
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”
Reports the Abbott government are seeking to “axe” the Renewable Energy Target puts a sharper focus on state government plans for renewable energy. With a Victorian state election on the horizon, voters want to know what plans the major parties have to secure renewable energy jobs and investment.
A Renewable Energy & Jobs Forum in Portland on Sunday August 24 will become a crisis meeting since the Abbott government announced its’ intentions for the national Renewable Energy Target.
The Forum, presented by Friends of the Earth’s Yes 2 Renewables project, the Australian Wind Alliance and local businesses, will allow the political parties to set out their plans to secure jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector.
Former Liberal leader John Hewson is the keynote speaker. Victorian shadow energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Greens Leader Greg Barber will attend. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Energy Minister Russell Northe have been invited to the event. Stand by for more speaking announcements. Continue reading “Sharper focus on state renewables policies as Abbott plans to “axe” the RET”
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