QLD Falling Behind in the Race to 100% Renewables
The Queensland Budget released today lacked any new announcements on renewable energy. This was a missed opportunity to stay in the game, according to the Queensland Conservation Council.
“The Queensland Government needed to announce an extra boost if we are to keep up with southern States in the race to reach 100% Renewables. Right now we are falling off the pace” says Queensland Conservation Council’s Climate and Energy Campaigner, Claire Fryer.
“Although this budget includes some of the great renewables promises that we welcomed before the election, such as the $500m Renewable Energy Fund and the $145m for Renewable Energy Zones, we are still in the early stages of shifting from the old polluting power of the past toward a new clean energy future.”
“New South Wales successfully passed their Electricity Infrastructure Bill, seeking an additional 12 GW of generation and 2GW of pumped hydro storage, while Victoria’s Energy Minister has secured $540million for Renewable Energy Zones, nearly $800million for energy efficiency programs and $200million for transmission work. These are bold steps, and they mean Queensland risks being left behind in the race to become a renewable energy super power” says Fryer.
“Queensland could be at the forefront of this. We have the technology, the resources and the people to be a leader in renewable energy. The Qld Government owns the majority of the state’s energy generation. We should see new investments announced every budget. We simply do not have time to wait. Queenslanders want, need and deserve a bold government when it comes to our energy system.”
A recent report by leading experts, Climate Analytics, found Queensland must stop burning coal for power by 2030 to play our part in keeping global heating to 1.5 Celsius under the UN's Paris Agreement targets.
A rise of more than 1.5C would "virtually guarantee the extinction of most of the Great Barrier Reef’’.
“The results from a recent Guardian Essential poll confirmed that 75% of Australians support a target of net zero emissions by 2030” adds Fryer. “Qld won’t meet this target at this rate, so we’re calling on the State Government to pick up the pace”