Greens-driven fix for Renewables Target must pass; still room for improvement

The Australian Greens today expressed hope that their long campaign to fix the flawed Renewable Energy Target will finally bear fruit in the coming days, with a Senate Inquiry tabling a positive report indicating broad support for the amendment bill.
“There will be thousands of workers and investors across Australia breathing a sigh of relief that, thanks to a long campaign by the Greens and others, the renewable energy target will finally be fixed,” said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.
The Greens warned when the Renewable Energy Target legislation passed last year that the design would see small-scale renewable energy technologies flooding the market, crashing the price of certificates and keeping out the industrial-scale renewables the scheme is intended to support.
The government ignored warnings from the Greens and industry and rejected Greens amendments to fix the scheme. Only after the warnings were proven well-founded did the government admit there was a problem and move to fix it.
“This was a mistake that never should have happened. If the government had listened to advice last August, the whole debacle, which stalled projects and caused job losses, could have been avoided.”
Senator Milne has written additional comments to the Senate Inquiry Report tabled this evening. The comments draw attention to ongoing concerns about banking of certificates and the potential for another boom-bust cycle in the rooftop solar industry.
“The critical point is that this legislation must pass, but a constructive approach from the government could see it improved even at this late stage.
“Given the government’s bold promises last year that everything would be fine, I do not have complete faith in their assurances that banking of existing credits will not partially undermine this fix.
“Solar industry representatives have also warned the committee that there is the potential for an insulation-like debacle if the scheme leads to almost free installation of solar panels.
“I am in discussions with the government over both of these problems and I do hope to see an open and constructive response.
“When the legislation comes before the Senate, I will also be moving amendments to remove native forest furnaces from the definition of renewable energy.”
Senator Christine Milne