It seems Queensland’s government has just about had enough of the Feds dissing the state’s renewable energy target aspirations of 50% by 2030.
Queensland Minister for Energy Mark Bailey has called on Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg to “release his trumped-up figures he’s using to scare Queenslanders about the State’s renewable energy target.”
The Federal Government’s preliminary modelling of the cost of Queensland’s target apparently came to $27 billion; a figure that was reported in the media prior to the recent hastily-convened COAG Energy Council meeting. However, the detail as to how that figure was arrived at is yet to be seen.
“Mr Frydenberg has continued to rely on it as being authoritative since that meeting – in fact on radio this morning, Mr Frydenberg is still referring to his secret modelling which he is still not revealing to anyone,” stated Minister Bailey yesterday.
“I’ve written to Mr Frydenberg and am again calling on him to immediately release this modelling in the spirit of transparency and good governance because he keeps using it as an argument to talk down Queensland’s renewable industry.”
A draft report recently released by the independent Renewable Energy Expert Panel says the state’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030 is not only achievable, but could be cost-neutral to electricity customers too.
Additionally, working toward the target could see a net average increase in employment of around 6,400-6,700 direct and indirect jobs each year between 2020 and 2030.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to maintaining affordability as we transition to our renewable energy future. We have consumers’ interests front and centre,” said Mr. Bailey
“Our record of stabilising prices after massive LNP hikes – 43% over their term – is clear. That commitment remains.”
Other states with their own renewable energy targets include:
- ACT: 100% by 2020
- Victoria : 40% by 2025
- South Australia : 50% by 2025
- Northern Territory : Proposed 50% by 2030
The biffo going on between some states with their own targets and the Federal Government has RenewEconomy’s Giles Parkinson asking whether the current situation is a case of “Abbott all over again?”
Top Right Image Credit: BigStock
