Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson
Today the Tasmanian Greens released the final parts of our Energy Strategy for a renewable and secure energy supply, a blueprint for self-sufficiency and clean electricity.
The Liberals' hands-off approach to managing the electricity market has been a disaster. It’s resulted in some of Tasmania’s largest employers having to cut jobs and contracts because of the government’s failure to act sooner.
Minister Groom has done nothing for two years, except stick with the status quo and hope the energy market will do his job for him. He's done nothing to plan for dry conditions and has no plan when it comes to the broken Basslink cable.
Our Energy Strategy is about empowering Tasmanians to reap the rewards of renewable power, regardless of how much they earn or where they live. It would bring down the cost of power, make sure electricity supply is reliable and reduce our carbon emissions.
A key component is a fair and consistent feed-in tariff price and a target of 50,000 rooftop solar systems on homes and businesses by 2020. It also includes a loan scheme that would cover solar installation costs for low-income households homes, with the cost recovered from electricity generated.
All government buildings and schools would be supported to reduce energy use and put on rooftop solar. People who live in apartments and rental accommodation would be supported to buy into community solar farms.
We send $1.3 billion every year out of the state from the sale of transport fuel. We need to transform our transport sector, starting with a target to use 30% less liquid fuel by 2025.
The Greens Energy Strategy puts renewables at the centre of energy generation in Tasmania and makes sure we don’t squander the expertise built up by Hydro, which gives us a market advantage for investment to the state.
The Greens have done the work planning for a secure and clean energy future. Let’s hope Liberals can.
