In June this year, Australia’s Senate referred the provisions of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009 to the Economics Legislation Committee.
The Renewable Energy bill seeks to implement the Government’s goal of increasing the renewable energy target in Australia from 9,500 gigawatt-hours in 2010 to 45,000 gigawatt-hours in 2020.
This revised target would mean at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020; so it’s a very important document in relation to the environment and battling climate change through decreasing greenhouse gas emissions – increasingly shifting focus away from filthy coal-fired electricity generation, which is continuing to grow.
The legislation will be critical in furthering the uptake of renewable energy in this country by making provision for the appropriate framework and funding.
The increased target will benefit the Australian solar industry and as a flow-on effect of that, generate thousands of new green collar jobs. For the consumer, it will mean more research, development and competition in the solar marketplace, resulting in better and cheaper renewable energy products and services.
The Committee is inviting submissions, however, interested parties only have until 5pm, Friday 24 July 2009 – this Friday.
Notes to help interested parties prepare submission are available at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm. Alternatively, the Committee Secretariat will be able to help people with inquiries and can be contacted on telephone 02 6277 3540 or facsimile 02 6277 5719 or by email to economics.sen@aph.gov.au.
If you wish to make a submission, documents should be emailed to economics.sen@aph.gov.au, with your contact details in the email itself and the submission as an attached Adobe PDF or MS Word format document.
Alternatively, written submissions may be sent to:
The Secretary
Senate Economics Legislation Committee
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
The Economics Legislation Committee is due to report to the Senate by 12 August 2009.
