Clean Energy Council Acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton said “In this budget, the Federal Government has recognised the importance of the programs that are in place to accelerate renewable energy and energy efficiency, and the industry welcomes that.”
Under the new budget, the Government will provide $37.1 million over four years to assist in establishing a nationally-consistent legislative framework for Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards to replace existing laws.
The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) said that it is concerned the Federal Government’s decision to prematurely close the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme to new customers has not been addressed by the 2012-13 budget.
“This decision caused serious problems for the solar hot water industry, and left customers confused,” AuSES said. “AuSES is concerned the budget will fail to stem job losses in the solar hot water industry, and we will raise this as a matter of urgency with the Government.”
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Clean energy stakeholders have also questioned the Federal Government’s decision to remove Tax Breaks for Green Buildings – a $1 billion retrofitting program expected to provide an incentive for businesses to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings – from the 2012-13 budget.
“Without this program, the greatest opportunity to improve energy efficiency, at the least cost, will be missed,” Green Building Council of Australia Chief Executive Romilly Madew said.
Energy Efficiency Council Chief Executive Rob Murray-Leach said “This program would have helped building owners save energy and save money, which means that it would have lowered the cost of meeting Australia’s greenhouse gas targets.”
Other measures announced for the 2012-13 budget include:
- The Australian Renewable Energy Agency to be established on 1 July 2012 will receive more than $292 million in 2012-13, more than $344 million in 2013-14, more than $436 million in 2014-15 and more than $321 million in 2015-16.
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