The
renewable energy industry sector is still waiting on a Federal Government
decision on the Renewable Energy Target (RET).
This is vital to the health of an industry which has been losing
investment because of uncertainty about its future.
As the
mining boom eases and unemployment increases, it would make sense for the
Government to promote a clean industry which already employs many Australians
and has the potential to employ many more if the right incentives are in
place. The fact that it seems determined
to ignore both the employment and climate positives of an expanding renewables
sector suggests a "dinosaur" ideological mindset.
Late in March John Hewson, former Liberal Party Leader, showed his concern about
the situation of the Australian renewables industry. He delivered a stinging
attack on Australia's three major power companies – Origin, Energy Australia
and AGL.
Hewson
was concerned at the part these three, who control more than 70% of the energy
retail market in Australia, are having in thwarting the development of
renewable energy . He believes that these companies' influence encouraged the
Federal Government's inquiry into the RET which was headed by climate sceptic Dick
Warburton. Unsurprisingly the inquiry
recommended the cutting of the RET, something the Abbott Government has been
determined to pursue despite its pre-election promise to keep the RET at
41,000GWh.
According
to Mr Hewson the big three retailers claim to support renewable energy while
they are lobbying to undermine it. He is
also concerned that they have been "getting away with screwing households
by hitting customers with almost obscene profit margins as energy
retailers."
He said,
"But here's the good news. The
Australian public, the vast majority of us who support cleaner and cheaper
power from renewable energy and are opposed to dirty coal and damaging coal
seam gas, have the ability to reclaim control over our public policy.
"In
order to stop vested interests like Origin, AGL and Energy Australia who have
much to gain by halting the growth of renewable energy, all we need to do is
switch our energy provider to a company backed by 100% renewable energy."
- L Blain
This article was published in the "Voices for the Earth" column in The Daily Examiner on April 13.
