Australians are enthusiastically embracing solar power. 2.5 million Australians now live under a solar roof. $8billion has collectively been invested in rooftop solar panels. And wherever you go, “it just makes sense” and “let’s get on with it” are common phrases uttered when talking about solar.
But heading into the election, those that seek to represent those millions of solar owners are much more variable – some highly ambiguous – in their support for renewable energy.
The first ever national scorecard of candidates1, ranks candidates in all electorates by giving their responses (or non-responses) to a candidate survey a cloud, sun or emerging cloud. The scorecard reveals wide disparity between candidates.
The results to some extent are unsurprising. In a tightly controlled election, with candidates expected to toe the party line, and individuals discouraged from speaking out on issues, it’s hard to see much differentiation within parties.
“We don’t respond to surveys” came a barrage of responses from Liberal and National party candidates. A few promised to take up the issue of the Coalitions ambiguous support for the renewable energy target2 with shadow climate minister Greg Hunt. Others were confused about the difference between the carbon price and renewable energy target.
The ALP, with their stronger recent record on renewables, did not need to be so defensive and sent a response from head office encouraging their candidates to sign ‘the solar pledge’. A few more ambitious ALP MPs indicated their support3 for expanding the renewable energy target. The Greens, of course, rushed to complete the survey wanting to show off their strong renewable credentials to as wide an audience as possible.
But, breaking broader party positions down to an electorate level is still useful. Because we start to see in some areas just how much the position of party candidates – particularly of a number of Coalition and National Party candidates – does a disservice to their electors and their electorate.
Regional and rural areas in particular stand to benefit heavily from support of the existing suite of policies driving investment in renewable energy. But their candidates either ignore, or actively campaign against, renewable energy policies that would lead to substantial jobs and regional development for their area.
Like the electorate of New England, where locals have organised to start up community owned wind and solar projects and where its windy plains will see lots of new turbines bringing money and jobs to Tamworth and surrounds. This electorate is also suffering the impacts of unfettered expansion of coal seam gas. But front running candidate Barnaby Joyce backs coal seam gas, has been a critic of the renewable energy target and has barely been seen around the electorate since Tony Windsor announced he was no longer running.
Or Port Augusta, South Australia, where the community is facing the question of what it will do when its old clunking coal plants inevitably shut down. Replacing the plants with solar thermal will ensure ongoing jobs and investment for the town. But, Labor MP and Minister for Energy and Resources, Gary Gray, has yet to speak a positive word about the potential publicly, despite huge community support.
In Bendigo the Liberal candidate intended to show support for solar, but revealed his ignorance when he promised his commitment to the local Bendigo Solar Cities project4 – without realising that the project had actually launched 5 years ago and has now been wrapped up.
Politicians risk ignoring the solar vote at their peril. Candidates in Western Australia learnt this the hard way the other week when they were hit with a wave of outrage from solar owners who were threatened with a cut to their tariffs5.
So, what does the summary of responses show for the major parties? A rather sad two cloudy suns and six clouds for the Coalition. Five shining suns for the ALP. And, unsurprisingly, a full suite of eight suns for the solar loving Greens.
Australia is now looked upon as one of the best places in the world to invest in renewable energy, with Ernst and Young’s recently released ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index6’ rating Australia number 4 in the world. And local communities across the nation stand to gain from the billions of investment dollars that will be unleashed.
Politicians need to show their support for our current policy mix, or they risk clouding our potentially bright sunny future and disappointing millions of solar loving Australians.
Lindsay Soutar is campaign co-ordinator for 100% renewables.
4 http://www.centralvictoriasolarcity.com.au/
5 http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/18456332/liberal-rebellion-on-solar-heats-up/
The record season for renewable energy has extended from its traditional spring season into summer,…
Calls for federal government to revamp the national rooftop solar rebate, instead of killing it…
New AEMO report details why all Australian states and territories should have an emergency solar…
Australia's living standards are forecast to take a $7 trillion hit between now and 2050,…
Any day now, we should be provided with an estimate on what Peter Dutton's plan…
Two sectors have been doing the bulk of the effort when it comes to emissions…