ATA: Budget blows will not stop community push for renewable energy

The deep cuts to renewable energy in yesterday’s federal budget will not dampen grassroots enthusiasm for renewable energy and a sustainable future, according to the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).

While shocked at the scale of the cuts, the ATA is confident the Federal Government’s hostility to clean energy will not stop the community’s passion for environmental sustainability.

“The enthusiasm of individuals and communities for sustainability continues unabated and ATA will continue to assist as best we can in providing independent information, advice, support and project management in their pursuit of a sustainable future,” said Damien Moyse, the ATA’s policy and research manager.

Mr Moyse pointed to the excitement around the national Community Energy Congress in Canberra in June as one example of strong grassroots support for sustainability. Another is the ongoing success of the ATA’s Speed Date a Sustainable Expert, which has seen hundreds of people across Australia engage with experts in green home building and improvement.

The Federal Government has cut $1.3 billion from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and broken an election promise by scrapping the Million Solar Roofs program, which was designed to assist low-income households access solar and save on energy bills while reducing their carbon footprint.

“It’s unconscionable that billions of dollars of polluting diesel fuel subsidies for mining companies have remained untouched, in favour of higher energy bills for residential households,” Mr Moyse said.

The budget cuts have placed enormous importance on the Renewable Energy Target as the primary mechanism to drive investment into household and utility-scale clean energy technology, and to restructure our electricity generation sector.

“Given the RET is a policy that is not taxpayer funded, and is largely cost-neutral to electricity consumers, the Government needs to come out and declare its intention to retain the RET in its current form,” Mr Moyse said.

“It’s the only viable mechanism left to drive the necessary investment Australia needs to keep energy prices low and to deliver on the Government’s own 2020 target for emissions reductions.”

The ATA is conducting a Defend The RET campaign of grassroots lobbying to stop attacks on the RET.

The ATA is Australia’s leading not-for profit organisation promoting household renewable energy, sustainable design and water saving.
Alternative Technology Association (ATA).