Federal Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer warns of renewable energy target concerns within Coalition
ABC News|Latika Bourke|June 23, 2014
Western Sydney Liberal MP Craig Laundy agrees the Government cannot create sovereign risk by dumping the scheme altogether and backs revising the policy. He argues renewable energy is a costly and inefficient way to abate carbon but has a place in the economy.
Western Sydney Liberal MP Craig Laundy agrees the Government cannot create sovereign risk by dumping the scheme altogether and backs revising the policy. He argues renewable energy is a costly and inefficient way to abate carbon but has a place in the economy.
A Federal Government MP says "a very sizeable number" in the Coalition share "significant concerns" about the renewable energy target (RET) amid signs it could be overhauled or even dumped.
A number of MPs have privately or publicly expressed concerns about the RET which mandates that 20 per cent of electricity be sourced from renewables by 2020.
Liberal MP Kelly O'Dywer has told ABC News 24 she has "substantial concerns" about the RET because it is pushing up electricity prices.
She has penned a column decrying the renewable energy target as another form of industry "entitlement" and suggested the RET's name be changed to "REnT" – a nod to the term "rent seeker".
She says a "very sizeable number" of her colleagues share her …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A Federal Government MP says "a very sizeable number" in the Coalition share "significant concerns" about the renewable energy target (RET) amid signs it could be overhauled or even dumped.
A number of MPs have privately or publicly expressed concerns about the RET which mandates that 20 per cent of electricity be sourced from renewables by 2020.
Liberal MP Kelly O'Dywer has told ABC News 24 she has "substantial concerns" about the RET because it is pushing up electricity prices.
She has penned a column decrying the renewable energy target as another form of industry "entitlement" and suggested the RET's name be changed to "REnT" – a nod to the term "rent seeker".
She says a "very sizeable number" of her colleagues share her view.
"I'm not the only person in the Coalition who has substantial concerns with the renewable energy target," Ms O'Dwyer said.
"But on the face of it I have very significant concerns with the renewable energy target as it is currently legislated today.
The Government is due to receive a review into the RET soon and Ms O'Dwyer says it will trigger a debate within the Government about how much it is "prepared to pay" for clean energy.
"There has been evidence that it's increasing costs for NSW households by around $107 per year - according to IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal)," she said.
Liberal MPs opposed to the RET say it is one of the few instances where they philosophically agree with the Nationals, who have also been strident opponents of the mandated scheme.
"The RET is about as popular as a 'Life. Be In It T-shirt' at a funeral amongst the Nats," Queensland Nationals MP George Christensen told the ABC.
"Anything that drives up power prices isn't good for householders, small business or farmers.
"But we are mindful that certain industries like sugar mills have made investments based on the RET policy and so they should have those investments somehow grandfathered," he said.
Western Sydney Liberal MP Craig Laundy agrees the Government cannot create sovereign risk by dumping the scheme altogether and backs revising the policy.
He argues renewable energy is a costly and inefficient way to abate carbon but has a place in the economy.
One option could be making the target a goal rather than mandated requirement.