Split leaves Hunt standing on RET, PM looking for more coal fires
The Federal Environment Minister is one of a dwindling number still in support of Australia’s Renewable Energy target, with the Prime Minister more excited about the “superabundance” of coal.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott can see almost no end to Australia’s supply of coal, and remains sceptical about the consistency of renewable energy supplies.
In an interview with News Ltd media outlets over the weekend, a government figure reportedly claimed Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane are the only remaining cabinet members to voice support of the RET.
The target has been set to achieve a five per cent reduction in the nation’s output of carbon dioxide from the years 2000 to 2020.
It seems the Prime Minister is on a divergent path, saying in a radio interview this week; “Australia should be... the affordable energy capital of the world.”
“We are going to have a good, long, hard look at this with the fundamental objective of doing what we can to get power prices down.”
But Mr Abbott does not believe power prices can be brought down by gathering energy from free and easily-exploitable sources.
“The problem at this stage with renewable energy is that there's always got to be a back up because sometimes the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow,” the Prime Minister said.
“If the sun doesn't shines and the wind doesn't blow, the power doesn't flow.”
It is unclear whether the Prime Minister is aware of the savings produced by solar energy, which the Centre for Policy Development's sustainable economy researchers estimate are between $300 million and $670 million each year in wholesale electricity costs.
Some insiders say it is unlikely that renewable energy investors will be buoyed by Mr Abbott’s outlook, but it is almost certain that the coal and oil energy sector will be glad for the continued support.
There has also been an increased push to sign up in the last days of the former government’s solar installation subsidies.