Put Tassie back on top of the class in renewable power
Tasmania lags other states — just look at lack of solar incentives, says Helen Polley
THE
public elect politicians to make decisions on their behalf. This responsibility is incredibly important and too often the decisions they make can have positive and negative consequences.
But the public expect our politicians to find answers to complex problems, to not delay action and to not make excuses.
It takes leadership and courage to make decisions that in the long term will serve the community as a whole. For the past 40 years you could argue that politicians have been totally ineffective in securing a renewable energy future in Australia. Tasmanians have done their best to invest in a renewable future but the Liberal State Government is letting them down.
In 2013 Aurora’s feed-in tariff per kilowatt hour was 28 cents. Since January 1 it has dropped to a staggering 8.5 cents. Therefore, there are about 30,000 Tasmanian households feeling duped by the State Government for investing in renewable energy, believing they would be not only making a profit on their investment but also doing their bit to create a fully renewable generation.
From 2020, if elected, a Shorten Labor Government will offer a rebate of up to $2000 for households earning less than $180,000 to install residential battery systems if it wins the next federal election.
However, for those Tasmanians looking to invest further in renewable energy through battery technology, this Liberal State Government is penalising rather than incentivising.
Batteries can cost up to $20,000 and with the tariff continuing to drop it is unlikely more Tasmanians will be encouraged to invest in solar technology.
Tasmania is really being left behind by other states. The Andrews Government in Victoria has a plan to put solar panels on 650,000 homes over 10 years with eligible Victorians able to save up to $2225 for installation of an average 4kW solar system.
Queensland’s Solar for Public Housing is another program leading the way by putting solar panels on public housing roofs across regional and remote communities.
And South Australia is continuing to lead the country with a Home Battery Scheme that offers $100 million in state government subsidies for up to 40,000 households to install battery storage in their homes.
Individual grants to the tune of $6000 are being provided to households to help with the purchase of the batteries and a graded subsidy level aims to support low-
income households.
Tasmania has led the country on renewable energy in the past with hydro-electric generation and wind farms. We can be the battery of the nation if we take a renewable future seriously. Solar power is just part of the energy mix and government should be incentivising further installations and reward systems for consumers who have solar installed currently.
By 2030 it is estimated that a quarter of Australia’s deserts can provide us with up to 1250 times our current consumption of electricity. In the near future electric vehicles will take over the vehicle market with internal combustion engines becoming a relic of the past. Then there is liquid hydrogen technology which has the potential to create a quarter of our current energy per year.
Demand for hydrogen is growing worldwide. Analysis shows hydrogen exports could be worth $10 billion within 20 years.
Renewable energy is a strategic asset that must be taken seriously. Renewable energy could provide up to 60,000 Australian jobs during the next decade, many in Tasmania if all levels of government take energy policy seriously.
Australia has wasted the past 10 years in policy paralysis over energy policy with the Australian Government no longer having an energy policy.
It is incumbent on state governments to drive energy policy change and incentivise the community to move to a renewable future because it is smart economics, good for people and good for the environment.
As former vice-president Al Gore said, it was discovered in 1839 that electricity could be generated from sunlight. Renewable energy, in particular solar energy, is not rocket science. “Once the renewable infrastructure is built, the fuel is free forever.”
The Hodgman Government should display leadership on energy, something they have failed to do, along with their federal coalition partners.
Government must serve the people and create a long-term sustainable future that is good for families, the economy and the environment. Renewable energy can do just that.