NSW Liberal/Nationals Policy Will Kick-Start Renewable Power In NSW

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Written by Catherine Cusack

The State Opposition has taken the lead in green energy policy by supporting a “gross feed-in tariff” which will maximize payments to families and businesses who install their own solar or other renewable energy “micro-generators”, Catherine Cusack Shadow Minister for Climate Change said today. “People are looking for practical ways to help reduce the impact of climate change. A renewable energy buy-back scheme – such as a gross feed-in tariff to reward families who install Solar Panels on their roofs is essential if we are to reduce our carbon footprint,” Ms Cusack said.

NSW is the only state that still does not have a rebate for solar energy customers. We have the lowest rate of installation of solar panels of any mainland state.

Under the NSW Liberal/Nationals policy, a gross feed-in tariff will be a credit or payment to households, institutions or businesses for the renewable energy they produce. This will include small-scale solar power from household rooftops.

It is estimated that if 5,000 households take advantage of the scheme, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is the equivalent of taking 16,250 cars off the road.

Ms Cusack said the NSW Liberal/Nationals favoured a “gross feed in tariff”, because it is the best way to create an incentive to invest in solar panels and other forms of renewables.

“In contrast, the Rees Labor Government has failed to announce any policy to pay people who produce solar energy. This will mean that people who want to do the right thing to reduce their carbon footprint will not receive appropriate incentives,” she said.

“Germany has half our sunlight but more solar panels than Australia because they provide security to the renewable sector through a feed-in tariff. Some 45 overseas countries have adopted feed-in tariffs with considerable success.

“A NSW Liberal/Nationals Government would take a significant step toward building Australia’s new, green economy by providing this strong support for renewable energy,” Ms Cusack said.

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Tim Andrews makes this comment

Monday, 22 June 2009

With all due respect, this is without doubt one of the Coalition's weakest initiatives.
NSW is desperately crying out for tax cuts and a reduction in the burden of government that is strangling our businesses. Now is NOT the time to increase government spending through dubious initiatives like this subsidy. Even notwithstanding the fact that empirical evidence conclusively demonstrates that such subsidies do not work (they merely drive the cost up firstly, and secondly, solar panels are not particularly efficient), NSW can NOT afford more government spending.
The coalition needs to continue calling for tax cuts and not increase government spending - particularly in areas which will not drive the economy.
Ralph Buttigieg makes this comment

Monday, 22 June 2009

G'day,

Catherine, who is going to pay the credit? The electricity distributors? What do they think of the idea? Electricity produced by wind and solar is unreliable so I'm not sure they would be able to make proper use of it. I tend to agree with Tim on this, sounds like a waste of government money or higher charges.
Catherine Cusack MLC, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability makes this comment

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Our policy for a gross feed-in tariff is considered by experts in the field to be the most effective way of kick-starting investment in decentralised, renewable energy generation.
This initiative requires no increase in government spending. It uses a cross-subsidisation of small-scale renewable energy to make the installation of solars panels viable over a given period of time.
The cross-subsidisation is often cases cheaper than the spot price for energy during peak demand. This means that a gross feed-in tariff can actually reduce the price of energy in peak periods compared to the status quo. All up, the scheme will have a negligible effect on the price of electricity.
It has been shown in modelling by Access Economics that the level of uptake in our policy will drive down the cost of solar panels significantly due to economies of scale.
Importantly, it will provide a sector that is historically vulnerable to shifting government incentives with something on which they can rely to establish and grow the sector. That’s why other jurisdictions are growing their green manufacturing sector, and NSW lost 250 jobs when BP Solar closed at Homebush.
This policy will reduce our emissions by around 1%, provide much-needed peak electricity, and create many thousands of green jobs. It will be one among many policies that we will be taking to the people to reduce NSW’s emissions significantly.
It also should be noted that solar and wind are reliable forms of energy, and other nations in the world with far higher percentages of wind power – such as Denmark – and solar power – such as Germany – can have a lower-carbon energy sector that provides reliable power.
In the case of solar, as the peak of energy use that aligns with the hottest days in the calendar year, this policy will provide real benefits in meeting peak demand.
This policy will cement NSW as the centre of decentralised, renewable generation in Australia.
I hope this addresses your concerns.
Ralph Buttigieg makes this comment

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

G'day ,

Catherine, your post just increased my concerns, not decreased them. Denmark has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. I'm not sure thats the road I want to see the Libs take NSW down.

Now sure solar electricity provides peak power in summer, but installing them is still going to be expensive. If the Feds cut out their subsidy I'm sceptical the feed in tariff will compensate.

You said theres some Access report on the subject, is it available for study?

ta

Ralph
Mick makes this comment

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Great initiative! Love to see this implemented.
Labor is too tired to do anything new and innovative.

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