While the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was defeated in Australia’s Parliament last week, there was no rest for politicians on the weekend as they scrambled to negotiate a decoupling of the Renewable Energy Target legislation contained within the CPRS.
After the defeat, enormous pressure was brought to bear upon the government by political rivals, industry and the community to pass the RET component, allowing for funding to be released for a number of programs, including the long awaited Solar Credits program.
This promised funding would not only benefit thousands of Australian households and businesses by finally providing heavy subsidisation for the installation of solar power systems, but also secure jobs currently under threat due to the absence of such a program after the solar industry was promised a smooth transition.
At this point, it looks likely the legislation will be passed this week and according to the Clean Energy Council, the only thing that can stand in its way is “political point scoring and gamesmanship.”
The CEC says it will continue to push for amendments ensure the government’s promised target of 45,000 GWh of clean energy by 2020 is reached, and that all ‘phantom’ renewable energy certificates created by the Solar Credits scheme to assist household installation of solar panels are reintroduced into the target.
The Greens have welcomed news that the increased Renewable Energy Target legislation will be implemented swiftly, but Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne expressed concern that a deal may be struck between the Government and Coalition where the community will pay to install renewable energy so that polluters can benefit from the cheap energy they produce.
The Greens’ have proposed amendments to the RET including a lifting of the the target to 30% by 2020, fixing the problem of ‘phantom renewable energy credits’ created by the solar multiplier, lifting the size limit on solar installations and ultimately phasing out the Solar Credits scheme with a gross national feed-in tariff for all forms of renewable energy.
Energy Matters will continue to closely monitor the situation and will provide updates in our news section as new information regarding the status of the Solar Credits program becomes available.
