Breaking ranks with many of his Liberal colleagues; the party’s Tasmanian leader says he will support the Renewable Energy Target in its current form.
Will Hodgman reportedly told The Weekend Australian he would fight any move to disadvantage Tasmania in axing or reducing the Renewable Energy Target.
The Clean Energy Council welcomed the pledge.
“Mr Hodgman clearly recognises the benefits renewable energy has brought to Tasmania. The Apple Isle sources the majority of its power from renewables such as hydro, wind and solar,” said the CEC’s Chief Executive, David Green.
“The Renewable Energy Target has had cross-party support since it was introduced by former Prime Minister John Howard in 2001, and it is particularly welcome to see leading public figures such as Will Hodgman speak out about its many benefits.”
Tasmania’s current Premier, Lara Giddings is also a strong supporter of the RET.
“Labor fundamentally disagrees with the Coalition’s outdated views on renewable energy,” Ms Giddings said in January at the opening of the Musselroe Wind Farm.
“I have written to Tony Abbott outlining the importance of the RET and the impact that scrapping the scheme would have on investor confidence and job-creating projects in Tasmania.”
Premier Giddings also called into question Mr. Hodgman’s ability to stand up to his Federal colleagues and last month, Ms Giddings reportedly blamed the carbon tax repeal for slashing revenue from the sale of renewable energy to the mainland by $150m.
Tasmanians go to the polls on March 15.
Tasmania currently generates nearly 100 per cent of its electricity needs from renewables, including hydro, each year. The state contributes around half of Australia’s renewable electricity from an installed energy generation capacity of approximately 2.42 GW. Renewable energy generated in Tasmania is exported to the mainland via the Basslink undersea cable, which was completed in 2006.
