Solar industry to use canning by-election for renewables push

Andrew ProbynThe West Australian The solar industry will use the Canning by-election to kickstart a national debate on renewable energy that targets Tony Abbott’s coal-friendly rhetoric. The

Australian Solar Council, which spent up big in last year’s repeat WA Senate election, has vowed to ensure clean energy policies influence the result in Canning. Data from the Clean Energy

Regulator shows that half the 75,467 dwellings in the sprawling Federal electorate have solar photovoltaic panels or solar hot water. More than a quarter of dwellings in Canning — 28 per

cent — have cut their power bills by putting solar panels on their roofs. Solar Council chief executive John Grimes said the Abbott Government’s broken promise on installing an extra million

solar roofs by 2020, its retreat on the Renewable Energy Target and directing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation not to invest in residential and small business solar had prompted the

campaign. He said Canning businesses and households who embraced solar were a “potent political force”. “If we can’t change the Government’s policy, then we need to change the leader,” Mr

Grimes said. “This is a golden opportunity to give Tony Abbott the kicks that he deserves. He is leading the Liberal Party and Australia in the wrong direction. He needs to embrace good

solar policy. “Our objective is to encourage the Liberal Party to change its leader, to encourage them to promote a leader who has a positive vision for renewables and solar and if that’s

the outcome, it’s job done.” This week, the Government announced an emissions reduction target of 26 to 28 per cent for 2030 and retained the option of international permits. Despite the

target, Mr Abbott said the Government was not assuming a “massive close-down of coal”. “One of the things that will benefit the world in the years and decades to come is if there is a

greater use of Australian coal because high-quality Australian coal, as opposed to low-quality local coal, is going to help other countries to, if not reduce their emissions, certainly

reduce their emissions’ intensity,” he said. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails