“The carbon price and renewable energy incentives have worked to reduce pollution and drive the change to a cleaner economy. Why would we want to slow this down?” Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.
“There’s a danger that floating the carbon price too early will create uncertainty for Tasmanian businesses and will rip out funding from Tasmania for clean technology, biodiversity and low carbon communities.
“We need to increase the renewable energy target (RET) to 90% by 2030 to drive the change to a clean economy and give a long-term signal to investors.
“The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is an essential driver to a clean economy. We need to boost its funding to get to 100% renewable energy sooner. It is helping to leverage finance for new wind farms, solar arrays and electricity grid upgrades.
“Projects such as the King Island wind farm need certainty. Wind investment will stop in its tracks if Tony Abbott reduces the RET. Investors in the new economy will now be reluctant to invest until they know exactly what Rudd and Abbott will do.
“Hydro Tasmania will suffer if the carbon price is floated sooner. It is currently earning $70 million from increased generation and the carbon price.
“Kevin Rudd needs to spell out clearly what will happen to the Hydro funding and Tasmanian renewable energy projects if he moves to an emissions trading scheme 12 months earlier.”
Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne
