Both major parties need to put politics aside and cut the Renewable Energy Target (RET) bill free from the defeated CPRS for immediate passage or risk catastrophic damage to and job losses in Australia’s emerging clean energy industry.

The Rudd Government was elected nearly two years ago promising a 45,000 GWH or 20% renewable energy target (RET) by 2020.  Nearly two years later, that promise, remains unfulfilled.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said this delay is now costing the clean energy industry more than $2 million a week.  The price of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) saw a sharp fall following the Senate's deferral of the RET bill in June and have stayed low, wiping millions off the value of existing renewable energy projects.

"Orders for solar PV have evaporated and staff are now being laid off or are idle in clean energy companies across an industry which is supposed to be gearing up to deliver 20% of Australia's electricity in 11 years time," Mr Warren said.

"This is an emerging industry that cannot bear these costs any longer.  It is incomprehensible that the frontline response to the decarbonisation of Australia's energy market is being allowed to atrophy in this fashion."

The RET will unleash around $28 billion of new investment and along with energy efficiency strategies will create more than 28,000 new clean jobs in Australia.

A recent survey by Newspoll commissioned by the CEC found 89% of Australians want more renewable energy and increased government efforts to stimulate investment.

"The RET bill needs to pass, and quickly," Mr Warren said.  "The time for political games is over." The bill needs to be amended immediately to de-couple it from the CPRS.  This is a simple amendment."

"The clean energy industry asks both major parties to put political point scoring aside and support the swift and streamlined passage of an expanded renewable energy target in Australia."

"This is not novel policy.  Australia has had a renewable energy target since 2001."

The proposed RET legislation only requires one other simple amendment to deliver the expanded target: the adjustment of the target to account for creation of the multiple RECs under the proposed Solar Credits scheme.

The Clean Energy Council is meeting with key government representatives in the coming days to discuss the RET passage.

A Letter From Our CEO to The Senate

Please find attached a submission to The Senate Economics Legislation Committee for Renewable Energy Bills, written by our CEO, Fiona O'Hehir.

Senate submission 23.07.2009.doc

Falling REC Prices

We understand your disappointment at the falling REC price, the RECs are a commodity and they are subject to supply and demand as well as the following political pressures.

The REC price fell because the two independent senators and the coalition deferred the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation to yet another senate economics committee for more modelling.

These three people are the ones you need to blame for the falling price.

You also need to contact them and tell them how these delays are affecting your business; to make sure the legislation gets passed on the 12/8/2009.

If it is not passed it could drag on and on into next year and all you will have is TIME ON YOUR HANDS!!

There will be little work in our broad sector if the RET is not passed.

The Hon Malcolm Turnbull                

PH:(02) 9327 3988

FX: (02) 9327 2533

EM  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senator Steve Fielding                       

PH: (03) 9802 1922

FX: (03) 9802 8236

EM This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senator Nick Xenophon                      

PH: (08) 8232 1144

FX: (08) 8232 3744

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For more details on members of parliament, please visit the following link:http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mps.html

For a list of Senators by Political Party, i.e. Greens, Labor, Country Liberal, Family First, Independent, Liberal and National, please visit for the following link:

http://www.aph.gov.au/SEnate/senators/homepages/index.asp?sort=party

For a list of Senators by State and Territory, please open the following document.

List of Senators by State and Territory

For a list of Members in the House of Representatives, please open the following document.

list of members of house of representatives 2009 .doc

For Parliament Sitting Days, please refer to the the following PDF File:-

Parliament sitting days 2009.pdf

Government Funding

The proposed implementation of the Solar Hot Water Program in Queensland has the potential to be remarkable; i.e. reducing the load on the existing electricity grid, defers the need for another power station and reduces GHG emissions. However, the Queensland Government is not going to fund the financial shortfall ($1,520.00 - $2,273.00) which means the industry; through both the manufactures and the installers of solar water heaters are going to bare the brunt of this shortfall.

We have written to Anna Bligh in hope that the government funding be applied in order to protect this industry.  Please find attached the actual proposal forwarded. 

anna bligh re swh.doc