The federal government’s planned National Energy Guarantee will put at risk jobs and investment in the south-west wind power industry, a renewable energy advocate says.
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Yes2Renewables coordinator Pat Simmons said the guarantee was a backward step for the Victorian renewable energy industry.
Under the guarantee, coal, gas, hydro and biomass energy will be rewarded for their baseload capability while wind, solar and hydro will be recognised as lower emissions technologies but will no longer be subsidised.
Mr Simons said the guarantee was “locking in polluting forms of power”.
The federal government’s move reinforced the need for Victoria to lead with its draft legislation committing the state to 25 per cent renewable energy by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025, he said.
Mr Simons said the bill had passed the Victorian Lower House and was expected to be approved in the Upper House with the support of Western Victorian MP James Purcell and Fiona Patten from the Reason Party (formerly the Sex Party).
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said the guarantee would mean electricity bills would be lower than forecast and lower than under a Clean Energy Target. The guarantee would also give certainty to investors and encourage investment in all forms of power, Mr Tehan said.
Keppel Prince general manager Steve Garner said the Victorian renewable energy target gave his Portland wind turbine tower manufacturing business a strong future for the next eight years.
But the federal government’s move created a lot of uncertainty for renewable energy after 2025, he said.
