Solar Progress reports (25/11/14):
"Last week the Climate Council released a comparison of each state’s renewable energy sector. The report titled ‘Australia’s Renewable Energy Race: Which States are Winning or Losing? ‘ was presented to a media conference in Melbourne by Professor Tim Flannery, Climate Councilor and John Grimes, CEO Austrian Solar Council. The report found that South Australia is leading the Australian states on renewable energy sourcing over a third of its electricity from renewable sources. At the other end of the spectrum is Victoria, which, although has excellent wind and solar resources, is lagging behind the rest of Australia.
"As we approach the Victorian election Professor Tim Flannery called on both Victorian political parties to commit to a renewable energy target. 'Victoria now has the worst policy environment for renewables in the country', the report says. 'Victoria’s new planning rules have cost the state an estimated $4 billion in lost investment and 3000 jobs'.
"In the climate of uncertainty created by the federal government, Professor Flannery said states had a critical role to play. However some states, such as Victoria and NSW, were not providing the right environment for renewable energy generation. In Victoria, just one in 10 homes has solar panels, compared with South Australia where one in four homes have solar panels. Combined with the impact of current Federal Government’s attempts to weaken the Renewable Energy Target, Victoria’s restrictive policies make it the least favorable investment environment of any Australian state for renewable energy. Even though Victoria has excellent wind and solar resources, investment has dried up.
"3,700 Victorians were employed in renewables at the beginning of this year, however, due to the current political climate of uncertainty, jobs are being lost. This include the 100 people who lost their jobs, last week, with the closing of Keppel Prince, an engineering company based in the western Victorian town of Portland, which closed its entire wind farm tower division.
"Victorian Premiere Dr Napthine said on Monday that coal would remain an important industry in Victoria for decades to come as it was the driver of the state’s main base load power. 'We need to continue to work with promoting alternative energy while recognising that coal as a driver of our base load power will continue for many decades ahead here in Victoria'. Dr Naptine highlighted the need to promote wave, solar, wind energy, as well as his geothermal plan announced during the campaign for the state’s south-west if the Coalition is returned to power.
"Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said he wanted to see more renewable energy and more energy technology jobs."
Read the full report at: http://solar.org.au/solar-progress/lead-story/state-of-play-naming-shami...
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