Australia’s peak solar industry body the Australian Solar Council (ASC) has strongly criticised economic modeling presented to the government review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET).
The ASC has said the economic modelling presented to industry stakeholders was biased and as a result threatened the jobs of many thousands of people working in the solar industry.
According to ASC CEO John Grimes 15,000 solar workers face a bleak future, not knowing if they’ll have jobs by the end of the year.
Mr Grimes was speaking followed the presentation to industry of the economic analysis for the conservative Liberal-National government’s review of the RET.
The economic modelling, originally confidential, has now been released by the review panel.
Mr Grimes said the ACIL Allen modelling included two options for axing of the RET from 1 January 1 next year, along with abolishing the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
He said that in a stunning admission the modelling showed that the more renewable energy that was deployed the lower all consumers’ power bills became.
“The RET has helped millions of Australian families install solar and as shown by the ACIL Allen modelling itself saves money for all consumers by reducing wholesale electricity prices,” Mr Grimes said.
“But despite this reality, even when all assumptions are biased against renewable energy, the takeaway message from the modellers was that the RET should be shut down”.
Mr Grimes said that in discussing the small-scale scheme that helps householders install solar PV the CEO of consultants ACIL Allen, Paul Hyslop, said “the takeaway message is that you don’t need SRES”.
“This is not the view of millions of Australians relying on access to SRES to help them cut power bills by installing solar,” Mr Grimes said.
“This will also be a shock to the thousands of small businesses operating in the solar industry and facing the destruction of their businesses.
“More than 15,000 Australian solar workers will be thrown on the scrap heap because of this government’s ideological agenda.”
“Yesterday we heard that a polluting dirty energy future, while more expensive, is not just possible, but desirable” said Mr Grimes.
“Solar saves money as ACIL Allen’s own modelling shows, and we know it creates local jobs in rural and regional areas”.
“This RET Review has been marked by conflicts of interest and pre-determined outcomes.
“The presentation of the economic modelling which continues to exclude any factor that might be seen as favourable to renewable energy confirms the RET review is a stitch up.”
The economic analysis specifically excluded consideration of the positive benefits of the RET, including job creation and the health benefits of clean energy production, he said.
According to Mr Grimes “the Australian Solar Council will fight hard to ensure Australian families and businesses can save money by installing solar”.
“Voters across the country are disgusted with politicians who will stop them getting the savings from solar that five million Australians already enjoy.”
“Our marginal seat campaign will target any politician who sides with the polluting vested interests.
“The truth about the benefits of renewable energy cannot be covered up no matter how hard they try,” Mr Grimes added.
