A cross-factional Labor group is urging the Queensland Government to create a Queensland Renewable Energy Agency.
The Labor Energy Action Network (LEAN) wants the Palaszczuk Government to commit to publicly-owned, large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.
“The Labor Environment Action Network believes the Queensland Government should plan, build and retain ownership of at least 3 GW of wind and solar farms over the next decade,” LEAN states in its policy proposal.
“These generators should be built in Northern Queensland, creating a world-leading industry for the region.”
LEAN wants Labor to adopt its renewable energy agency policy at the upcoming state conference.
Renewable agency will foster jobs, energy exports
LEAN says creation of a Queensland Renewable Energy Agency will foster local industry and lead to energy exports to other states.
“Changes to the current private, profit-driven, competition-based electricity system are needed to deliver secure power supply,” LEAN’s policy states.
“We note the people of Queensland continue to oppose the privatisation of essential services and the sale of state-owned assets.
“Queensland Labor can lead the nation by ensuring the public sector continues be a major player in the Queensland electricity market by building publicly owned renewable energy.”
Australia already has a national renewable energy funding agency, ARENA.
ARENA funds researchers, developers and businesses that have “demonstrated the feasibility and potential commercialisation of their project”.
Uncertainty hampering current energy market
LEAN says uncertainty due to Federal Government indecision is hampering the uptake of renewables.
It says a new Queensland Renewable Energy Agency could plan the state’s clean energy future.
“This will ensure the Queensland public remains a major player in the energy market, keeping our electricity supply secure for future generations.”
Speaking to the Courier Mail, Queensland Energy Minister Mark Bailey said he supported keeping power assets in public hands.
“We are committed to investigating a restructure of government-owned generators to deliver improved market outcomes and reduce wholesale prices,’’ Mr Bailey said.
The move towards renewable energy comes as the Federal Government pushes for a coal-fired station in North Queensland.
The Queensland Labor Conference 2017 is being held in Townsville on Saturday July 29.
