As with any Budget, last night’s announcements met with a mixture of optimism and criticism from various corners in relation to renewable energy.
To recap, the highlights of the Budget relating to renewables-sourced power generation and energy efficiency were:
– The new $650 million Renewable Energy Future Fund
– Details of $110.5 million from existing renewable energy programs in a variety of solar projects
– Proposals that have reached the second stage of assessment for Round One of the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships Program
– $1.8 billion for the Resource Exploration Refundable Tax Offset, under which technologies such as geothermal power and wave energy will be eligible.
– Funding to establish up to 10,000 training places per year for industries including renewable energy.
– An additional $102.7 million will also provide an added 600,000 home sustainability assessments
Reactions to the announcements were varied:
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren:
“Last night’s budget was a step in the right direction. But there is still more work to be done.”
Mr. Warren also pointed out swift reform of the Renewable Energy Target in this session of Parliament was needed as well as development of targeted clean tech assistance.
Speaking on ABC radio, leader of the Australian Greens Bob Brown had the following to say about the $650 million Renewable Energy Future Fund:
“That’s the a drop it the bucket compared to what is required in terms of action the Greens would take with our carbon tax, which is real action on climate change.”
According to The Age, Greenpeace criticised $2 billion in extra funding for “clean coal”, calling it is a waste of money which should go to renewable energy.
The Age also reported John Connor, chief executive of the Climate Institute, welcomed the budget boost for clean energy technology, particularly solar power; but was non-committal about funding for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, saying in reference to the debate about whether CCS will work that it shouldn’t be left to “hang around like a bad smell” .
The Liberal Party issued a media release that didn’t address renewable energy directly, but the related issue of climate change, saying “Having shelved its response to what Kevin Rudd described as “the greatest moral challenge of our time”, the Budget demonstrates that the Government does not have a credible policy on climate change.”
While much of the Budget was clear as to how much funding was going towards what in terms of renewable energy; the wild card remains the Renewable Energy Future Fund; full details of which are yet to be announced by the Government.
