SA Liberal Home Battery Support Welcome But Scrapping SA Renewable Target Leaves SA at Whim of Divided Federal Government
Solar Citizens has welcomed the South Australian Liberal Opposition’s $100 million commitment to supporting South Australian solar households to take up battery storage but says scrapping the state based renewable goal in the face of federal inaction is a major missed opportunity.
“Renewable energy with storage is the cheapest way to cut pollution and power bills so it’s positive to see the South Australian Liberals backing solar households with battery storage and funding for grid scale storage. More solar and storage will support all South Australians with cleaner and cheaper power,” Dan Spencer, South Australian campaigner with Solar Citizens said.
“Sadly, Steven Marshall’s Liberals have missed a big opportunity by committing to scrap South Australia’s 50% renewable goal, something that plays into the hands of a divided Federal Government with no plan for renewables post 2020. Scrapping SA’s renewable target is a retrograde move that sends the wrong message and it will be vehemently opposed by the South Australian community,” Mr Spencer said.
“With a strong and sensible state renewable target that drives new renewables and storage, South Australia could be a renewable superpower. Scrapping South Australia’s existing renewable goal just does not make sense and South Australians will not support it,” Mr Spencer said.
Solar Citizens says the Liberals’ plan to replace the state-owned gas plant should instead be a plan for new renewables with storage.
“Rather than replacing the state-owned gas plant with a reverse auction for existing generation, the SA Liberals should commit to run a reverse auction for new clean renewables with backup storage to make South Australia less reliant on uncompetitive, polluting gas” Mr Spencer said.
Solar Citizens says policy to support people on low incomes and renters to access the benefits of renewable energy with storage remains an enormous gap and must be prioritised by all parties in the lead-up to the March 2017 state election.
“Solar Citizens urges all political parties ahead of the SA election to support people currently locked out of the benefits of renewables with storage to have access to clean and cheap power,” Mr Spencer said.
Positives in the Liberal Plan
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$100 million for household battery storage.
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$50 million for grid scale storage.
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Establish a renewable energy zone between SA and NSW with funding for increased interconnection.
Negatives in the Liberal Plan
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Scrapping the South Australian 50% renewables goal which sends a negative message to investors and leaves policy for new generation with the Federal Government who are walking away from a Clean Energy Target and has no plan for renewables post 2020.
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A reverse auction that benefits existing private gas generators to supply unused capacity. Solar Citizens recommends replacing this with a reverse auction for new renewables with storage.
For media inquiries: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632
