[Greens-Media] Greens welcome WA's new renewable energy feed-in laws

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Monday 25 August, 2008

Greens welcome WA's new renewable energy feed-in laws

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne welcomed the Western
Australian Government's announcement today of a 'gross' renewable energy
feed-in law for residential solar roof-top systems as a great first
step. 

Whilst this will encourage roof-top solar systems, there is still no
incentive for large-scale solar thermal systems or for farmers or
supermarkets to take up more than 10 kilowatt systems.  

Senator Milne said "The community wants governments to help ordinary
people to become part of the renewable energy revolution and the
solution to climate change and in that context this is a good
initiative." 

"However, the urgency of climate change and the scale of the response
needed makes government support for utility-scale production essential."


"A gross feed-in tariff can make every roof-top a money-spinner for
householders - and that's part of the Greens' vision for a zero-emission
future."

The Greens are calling on the Carpenter Government to recognise the huge
potential for WA to be a national flagship for large-scale renewable
energy and to expand on their good initiative. 

Feed-in laws have been responsible for the massive growth in renewable
energy in Europe, and WA will be the fourth state in Australia to
introduce it. 

Senator Milne said "The 'gross metering' approach proposed for WA would
be considerably better than the miserly 'net metering' approach adopted
by Victorian and South Australian governments, and a rate of 60c/kWhr
would make it the best scheme in Australia." 

The Greens in the Senate are driving the push for a national feed-in
tariff through Senator Milne's private member's bill. A total of 116
submissions to the Senate inquiry have been received to date and the
Greens would welcome Premier Carpenter's support for their initiative. 

Contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760