NSW Lib/Nat Solar Policy Will Deliver Jobs

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Written by Barry O'Farrell

NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Liberal Member for Baulkham Hills Wayne Merton today toured Modern Solar at Norwest to discuss the jobs growth that will result from the NSW Liberal/Nationals gross feed-in tariff solar policy.

Last month the NSW Liberal/Nationals announced it supports a “gross feed-in tariff” solar energy policy, which is a credit or payment to households, institutions or businesses for all the renewable energy they produce.

Modern Solar, which has sites in Norwest Business Park, Wollongong, Newcastle and on the Central Coast, predicts a gross feed-in tariff policy would allow it to double its solar workforce, adding upwards of 200 jobs to the NSW economy.

“At a time when NSW has the highest unemployment rate in the country because of 14 years of State Labor incompetence we need to do all we can to deliver jobs,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“Our gross feed-in tariff solar policy will deliver hundreds of jobs in Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and on the Central Coast,” he said.

“Companies in the solar industry have indicated the adoption of a gross feed-in tariff policy will deliver certainty, allowing them to attract new customers and expand business, all whilst helping reduce the state’s reliance on non-renewable energy.

“Our policy is a win-win. It will deliver hundreds of additional jobs in areas of high unemployment and will help empower families to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Nathan Rees should stop talking about jobs and start delivering jobs. The best way to do this is by adopting NSW Liberal/Nationals’ policies such as our commitment to gross feed-in tariffs, cutting payroll tax by up to 20% and halving lead-in times for major infrastructure projects,” Mr O’Farrell said.

Mr Merton said delivering jobs in Western Sydney is essential.

“The Norwest Business Park is an employment hub in Western Sydney and we should be doing everything possible to allow businesses to expand.

“I’m pleased that our gross feed-in tariff policy could see the expansion of the local solar industry and the delivery of hundreds of extra jobs in Western Sydney.”

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Ralph Buttigieg makes this comment

Sunday, 19 July 2009

G'day,

My understanding is that Gross Feed-in Tariff means the solar/wind energy producer will be charging a premium for the electricity they sell. If this is so, how much extra will will the tariff be compared to current prices? And how much extra will consumers have to pay?

ta

Ralph
The Hon Catherine Cusack MLC makes this comment

Monday, 20 July 2009

Thanks for your comment Ralph. The additional cost of feed-in tariffs (net or gross) is absorbed in the general pricing for electricity. Modeling by access Economics suggests the increased costs for users are marginal (a few cents a week) due to very low take up rates as a percentage of total power usage. These modest increases in user prices will be more than offset by other policy initiatives to increase energy efficiency. In other words, we anticipate electricity bills will on average not increase as a result of our policy.

Our figures are conservative because they do not take into account possible increases in the cost of producing electricity from fossil fuels under a federal emissions trading scheme.

If we can significantly boost "micro-generation" as a secure source of power for NSW there will be very significant savings by avoiding the need for large new investment in infrastructure. over-reliance on coal-based electricity is an ongoing economic risk as the rest of the developed world moves away from coal and towards cleaner energy sources.

Increased use of renewable energy such as solar and wind by householders and business is good for our economy as well as the environment.
grant watt makes this comment

Monday, 09 November 2009

May I suggest you read this recent article

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125193815050081615.html

on the high costs ,subsidies and loss of jobs in the much vaunted Spanish renewable energy program which was paying subsidies between 90% and 400"%
of market value.

Please also note the dips in profits for major Chinese and German solar parts manufacturers.

Yours Sincerely

Grant Watt

former member of CLP and NSW liberals.

.

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