MATTERS OF (DIRE) CONSEQUENCE
and holding those responsible accountable
John Grimes presents an update on significant issues being addressed by the Smart Energy Council on behalf of its members and the renewables industry.
John Grimes with Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni (left)
What the Smart Energy Council stands for Starting for us is the ‘why’ and that was brought into sharp focus with the most recent IPCC report, a Code Red warning on climate change which everybody has already seen for themselves. Climate change is accelerating and what we have experienced to date is just a small taste of what the future has in store for us. Climate action remains a key driver for everything that the Smart Energy Council does. We also know there are fantastic business opportunities in transitioning to a safe climate; we can have a strong economy and a safe climate at the same time, provided we transition to a low carbon economy based on renewable energy and adopt more sustainable practices. Unfortunately we continue to battle a federal government that is ideologically opposed to any meaningful action on climate and that is creating some very serious barriers to the uptake of the cheapest cleanest technology. That’s what we face in Australia, and we are dedicated to advocating boldly on behalf of our members. Some examples of what the federal government is proposing in its comprehensive pro-coal, anti-solar agenda that we believe requires bold advocacy include: • A new solar tax that will slug Australian families to export their solar power to the energy grid; • A $3.2 billion ‘CoalKeeper’ subsidy that will allow unprofitable, ageing, polluting coal-fired stations to operate well beyond their lifespan; • A new tax on solar farms (the inelegantly named Congestion Management Model); and • Illegal legislative changes to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act that will force the renewable energy agency to fund fossil fuel projects.
These policies are both confounding and confronting. This shows that the coalition government continues at every opportunity to push back against any meaningful movement on climate and any significant incursion of the renewables industry into the entrenched best interests of fossil fuel industries that currently dominate our political system. We called on all state and territory governments to reject the Morrison Government’s pro-coal, anti-solar agenda at the recent Energy Ministers’ meeting and discussions continue.
State action and enterprise We are also addressing many issues at a state level. Many people would have tuned in to our recent Queensland and New South Wales Summits which highlighted the advances being made and our involvement in some ambitious, progressive agendas. (See facing page.) Next we are staging our Global Race To Zero Summit on October 20 and 21 which brings together global leaders in the movement toward a strong zero carbon and strong economic future. It’s a significant global event with an Australian accent. Our Global Summit of last year attracted over 6,600 delegates and we are aiming to grow that to more than 10,000 delegates. We want as many people possible to join us for this important two-day online Global Summit. More details soon.
Strength in numbers: an invitation to step up Finally, we would like to encourage people to register with the Smart Energy Council so we can grow our database and our engagement with the wider industry and service people well by providing the right information that can help them in their business, in their research and in their policy making. In order to shape a cleaner, better, smarter energy future we need to band together and benefit from our collective knowledge, resources and determination. Visit www.smartenergy.org.au
“The federal government is proposing a comprehensive pro-coal, anti-solar agenda that we believe requires bold advocacy on behalf of our members.” 19
