Coalition adds rooftop solar to its “disrupt and delay” handbook
The National Party are back at it, looking to disrupt and delay Australia’s accelerating clean energy revolution.
This time, they're tactically suggesting that distributed renewables – minus utility-scale projects – are the solution to decarbonisation.
Off the back of their call for a moratorium on large-scale wind, solar and transmission, the Nats are pushing a massive rooftop solar subsidy scheme.
They suggest this as a panacea for the energy transition, firmed up with the fantastical combination of “nuclear and CCS".
24 hours later they had the enthusiastic backing of shadow energy minister Ted O’Brien. To solarise rooftops they want public capital investment diverted away from big wind, solar and transmission.
Accelerating utility-scale renewables while supporting households to solarise and electrify are mutually complementary.In fact, both are essential to underpin a wholesale energy transition
Of course, the feds must address the challenges of community consultation and social licence on big renewables projects.That's what the Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s review is for.
The false dichotomy of distributed versus utility-scale, coupled with the SMR and CCS furphies, is just the latest chapter in the LNP’s attempt to repoliticise the energy transition.
The Coalition has ignited Climate Wars 2.0 by spreading disinformation to whip up community dissent against renewables.
Meanwhile, countries the world over are moving to prioritise energy security and independence with monumental investments in utility-scale renewables.