Media Statement from Solar Citizens on Minister Chris Bowen's comment at Smart Energy Conference, Sydney today
Media Statement from Solar Citizens on Minister Chris Bowen's comment at Smart Energy Conference, Sydney today
Speaking at a panel session at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney today, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen confirmed the government's commitment to a capacity investment mechanism that provides stability and certainty for investment in large-scale storage, if it's both renewable and dispatchable storage.
The Minister provided further information at the conference, indicating there will be financial support for the capacity investment mechanism in next week's Federal Budget. He indicated the Federal Government will be working in co-operation with states to roll out gigawatts of power and millions of dollars of renewable energy investment.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has previously stated there will also be an energy support package for household electrification and energy efficiency in the Budget.
Comment in response from Heidi Douglas, National Director of Solar Citizens, who is attending the conference:
"Solar Citizens welcomes the comments from Minister Chris Bowen today that the upcoming Federal Budget will support growing both large-scale renewable storage and household electrification.
"Solar Citizens has joined with many environment groups and members of the community in calling for greater government investment in renewable storage and assistance for households to replace devices with more efficient electric versions, preferably also powered by renewables.
"Household electrification is not just a big win for the environment, it is a big win for reducing household costs and the cost of living pressure from rising electricity and gas bills.
"The action we need to fast-track the transition to renewable energy with storage can also be effective action on cost of living.
“Solar citizens calls on the Federal Government to include both a large scale and small scale storage in a renewable energy storage target or the Minister's own goal of 60 million more home solar systems in the next seven years with storage won't be met.”
[ENDS]
Media contact: Jane Garcia (Essential) 0455 111 593
