Greens NSW MP John Kaye says a draft Renewable Energy Action Plan for New South Wales fails to call off the O’Farrell government’s war on rooftop solar and wind power.
Dr. Kaye believes the plan, if implemented in its current form, will lock NSW into a coal-fired future with jobs and investment “set to continue to haemorrhage out of the state”.
Unveiled on Friday, the Plan outlines 28 actions the Government says will help NSW meet its 20% renewables by 2020 target.
Energy Minister Chris Hartcher says only the best value for money solutions will be adopted; delivering investment and jobs “at no cost to consumers”.
“The goal is realistic but the plan is a dud. Without a commitment to lowering the barriers that are stunting wind and solar investment, cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and the tens of thousands of new jobs will be nothing but a pipedream,” said Dr. Kaye
With regard to small scale solar, the only action listed under the plan is to “Annually request IPART to estimate a benchmark range for a fair price for small-scale generated solar energy.” The benchmark range recommended by IPART for 2012/13 is 7.7 – 12.9c per kilowatt hour – and is voluntary.
To support medium-scale solar power, the NSW Government will work with industry identify commercial sites where it will be cost effective and facilitate uptake for commercial buildings through the Renewable Energy Advocate.
“The failure to reverse the O’Farrell government’s policy hostility to wind and solar will turn the promised 6,000 new jobs into nothing more than a fantasy.”
“Parliamentary Secretary Rob Stokes worked hard to produce a new deal for renewables. It’s clear that he was badly undermined by his Minister Chris Hartcher and the fossil fuel lobby who want clean energy technology to remain a boutique industry that does not interfere with their profits.”
The Plan is available here and public comment is invited. Submissions will be accepted until 26 October 2012.
