Rosalie Woodruff MP on tomorrow to move -
That this house:
Acknowledges that many Tasmanians feel powerless in the face of doubts cast over our Islands energy security, rising power prices and the task of tackling climate change.
Understands that this feeling of disempowerment is entrenched by a system of national regulation that is driven by the interests of enormous energy companies, which dictate how energy will be produced and sold, with past investments concentrated in large centralised power generation.
Accepts that the government’s 2015 Tasmanian Energy Strategy further entrenches the status quo, at the expense of pushing market innovations that would secure our electricity supply, ease prices and reduce carbon emissions.
Recognises this has resulted in an energy system that is reactive, unresponsive to community needs, vulnerable, market reliant, highly politicised, and decoupled from wider social goals, leaving the majority of us caught in a trap of rising power prices and an unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels.
Acknowledges that the renewable future involves a shift towards decentralised electricity, which is produced close to where it will be used rather than in a large power station elsewhere.
Recognises there is no reason why all Tasmanians can’t become renewable energy producers if they want to.
Understands that when households and businesses install solar panels and battery storage, and link these into the grid, these become valuable investments in our electricity network.
Accepts that local generation reduces transmission losses, lowers carbon emissions and increases the overall security of our electricity supply.
Calls on the government to adopt the actions in the 2016 Tasmanian Greens Energy Strategy and fundamentally change Tasmania’s energy policy, regulation and our engagement in the energy market so as to:
enable all Tasmanians to become renewable energy producers if they want to;
save energy system costs and make the price of electricity cheaper;
encourage energy efficiency and behavioural change;
increase the security and reliability of our power supply; and
increase the use of renewable energy in the community.