The Australian Greens have stepped up pressure on the Rudd government to commit to a national Renewable Energy Target of 90 percent renewable energy by 2030 and to support an increase in clean energy spending of $3 billion per year over the next decade.
The Greens’ new Clean Energy Roadmap (PDF) calls for a radical extension of Australia’s current Renewable Energy Target of 20 percent by 2020 in order to combat an impending “climate emergency” by decarbonising the electricity sector and to secure investment in big clean energy projects.
Citing research from the Australian Energy Market Operator, the plan states Australia has the technical capacity to generate 100 percent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and tidal power.
Under the Roadmap, the AEMO would become an independent body, charged with planning and overseeing investment in a massive rollout of electricity transmission lines in areas of the country with abundant renewable resources.
“We can power Australia with the wind, sun, and water for a cost similar to replacing the ageing coal and gas plants that are nearing the end of their lives,” the Roadmap says.
The Greens say they will push to increase funding for the government’s $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation to $30 billion, by injecting $3 billion per year for ten years, to drive more change and private investment in renewables.
Both major parties support the current RET, but have no plans to increase it beyond 2020. This, say the Greens, simply isn’t good enough.
“While the old parties chop and change their plans on pollution pricing and clean energy, the Greens have a plan to make Australia the best place in the world to build renewable energy.”
They have challenged Tony Abbot and the Coalition to publicly commit to the 41,000 gigawatt/hour Target and to rein in MPs who attend anti-wind farm rallies.
Victorian Greens candidate Stephanie Hodgins-May has used the Roadmap as springboard for a campaign to have her electorate of Ballarat powered by 100 percent renewable energy, pointing to the two-turbine Hepburn Springs Wind Farm powering nearby Daylesford as an example.
“The Clean Energy Roadmap is the Greens plan to power our city, our region and Australia with the wind, sun and waves,” she said.
