The Australian Labor Party will announce a commitment to supporting a Renewable Energy Target of 50% by the year 2030, according to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald and a press release from the Australian Solar Council.
If enacted, this ambitious goal would build on the existing target of 20% renewables by 2020 and accelerate renewables growth dramatically between 2020 and 2030.
Solar Council executive John Grimes called the ALP’s move “a game changer for Australia’s economy.”
“50% renewables by 2030 will ensure Australia takes advantage of the biggest economic opportunity our country has ever seen – the unstoppable global transition to a clean energy future,” he said.
The RET – originally introduced under the Howard government and strengthened by the ensuing Labor governments – has until recently been under attack from the current federal government, who sought to reduce the 2020 goal from 41,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to a ‘floating’ target based on annual electricity demand forecasts.
In the end, a compromise of 33,000GWh (about 23%) was struck, although the government still seems set on finding ways to curtail the development of large-scale projects – particularly wind farms.
The Solar Council – in conjunction with advocacy groups like Solar Citizens – have managed to give a clear, unified voice to renewable energy supporters, and have been instrumental in influencing the political discourse around the Target.
© 2015 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
