Coalition twists and turns on wind and solar as ACT Libs embrace 100% renewables

The conservative Coalition parties appear to be having a massive debate with themselves about whether to support, or oppose, wind and solar – between those who claim wind and solar don’t work, to those who have accepted it is the way of the future.

In the same week that Craig Kelly, the climate denier Liberal MP appointed to head the Coalition’s environment and energy committee, called for the end of subsidies to wind and solar, the ACT branch of the Liberal Party has suddenly decided to support the territory’s 100 per cent renewable energy target.

That target, the brainchild of outgoing Labor environment and energy minister Simon Corbell, with support from the Greens, is on track to be met by 2020, and the contracts have been locked in.

But until now it has been vigorously opposed by the ACT Liberals, whose leader Jeremy Hanson said in April that it was “too much, too fast” and even linked it with the cost of parking in the territory. He said that the cost of such targets was “enormous” and would push consumer bills “through the roof.”

Now, they have had a rethink, and it might have something to do with the upcoming elections, and the apparent popularity of the ACT’s push into the wind and solar industry, which, as it turns out, won’t cost consumers anywhere near what the Liberals said it would. In fact, it may cost very little, and will have huge benefits for the ACT economy.

“The Canberra Liberals are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging the use and advancement of renewable energy. It’s important to lead the way here in the ACT,” ACT Liberal Nicole Lawder said.

“We are also committed to the interim target of 40 percent less than 1990 levels of carbon emissions.

“We recognise that renewable energy is an important part of our transition to a low emissions economy and the Canberra Liberals are committed to protecting our environment for future generations.”

That’s a nice change. The conservatives in the Northern Territory went to their election last week with a virulently pro-gas agenda and saying some perfectly ridiculous things about the cost of solar and battery storage. There were plenty of other issues, but they lost government and won just one seat out of a 25 seat assembly.

In the federal arena, many in the Coalition are continuing undaunted. The Coalition is still trying to push through legislation to strip $1 billion of funds from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and it trying to curb the sort of state-based targets that have made the ACT a centre for renewable energy and innovation in the country.

Kelly, though, is taking Coalition thought to the extremes often found in Murdoch media. He declares himself to be a disciple of one of the Coalition’s favourite polemicist, Bjorn Lomborg, who argues against wind and solar because they don’t work and new technology is needed to reduce emissions.

“I’m in Bjorn Lomborg’s camp, you have to put resources into a technological breakthroughs because [wind and solar] is on periphery and having so little effect,” Kelly was quoted by The Guardian as saying.

It is, though, yet another argument for delay. The ACT, at least, is not delaying at all. It will be at 100 per cent renewables within four years, and the local conservatives are saying they are very happy about that.